Acting FEMA chief fired a day after saying eliminating agency not in public's interest

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's acting director was fired Thursday after telling Congress he believed it is not in the public's best interest to eliminate the agency.

Politico first reported the firing of the official, Cameron Hamilton, citing two people with direct knowledge of the situation, and noted that Hamilton had told people that he was terminated. The media outlet later reported that FEMA confirmed Hamilton's firing.

Hamilton was replaced by David Richardson, who was appointed in January as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, The Hill news outlet reported.

On Wednesday, Hamilton testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee, during which he was asked about President Trump's push to get rid of FEMA.

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

He also said that it was not his decision to make, but that the White House and Congress would have to decide the most logical use of federal funding for emergency response.

Hamilton's firing came just three weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Trump's budget proposal calls for $646 million in cuts to FEMA that it argues fund “equity” in disaster response.

Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, was a Republican candidate for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District last year, but he lost in the primary election.