Shortly after Hamilton’s dismissal, DHS fired four FEMA employees over “egregious” payments made to house migrants in New York City hotels. Elon Musk highlighted on X that FEMA had sent $59 million to luxury hotels for migrants—a sum intended for disaster relief—and a clawback was demanded to recover the funds.
The firings coincided with President Trump’s visit to North Carolina, where residents were still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Trump criticized FEMA’s performance and announced plans to reform the agency, suggesting states should take on more responsibility in disaster response.
“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters, let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. And I think you’re going to find it a lot less expensive. You’ll do it for less than half, and you’re going to get a lot quicker response,” Trump said, emphasizing a more localized approach to emergency management.
The administration’s moves signal a decisive shift in FEMA oversight, prioritizing accountability and faster relief efforts while highlighting the challenges of federal disaster management.
