The Big Story 

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was fired Thursday, one day after telling lawmakers he did not think it was in the public’s interest to eliminate the agency.

© Greg Nash

A FEMA spokesperson confirmed Cameron Hamilton was no longer serving as acting administrator. That role is now being filled by David Richardson, who was appointed in January as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

Politico first reported on Hamilton’s firing.

Hamilton testified Wednesday on Capitol Hill, where he was asked about the push from the Trump administration to get rid of FEMA and largely turn over disaster response to the states.

“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton told lawmakers.

He added that he was not in a position to make such a decision and that it should be between the White House and Congress to determine what was the most logical use of federal funding for emergency response.

Hamilton’s ouster also comes just weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Read more from The Hill's Brett Samuels.

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