WASHINGTON — Before Cameron Hamilton headed to Capitol Hill on May 7 to testify about the Federal Emergency Management Agency he was leading, the former Navy SEAL cleaned out his desk, knowing that he would soon be fired.

That morning officials with Fema’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, had called Fema’s security team to order them to revoke Hamilton’s security pass and escort him from the building, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

A tense back-and-forth ensued, with Fema officials warning that Hamilton, the agency’s acting administrator, would need to cancel his planned congressional testimony. That could fuel the perception of instability at the disaster relief agency, the Fema officials cautioned, the three people said. DHS officials relented and Hamilton testified that afternoon, telling lawmakers he did not support the dismantling of the agency, contradicting the position of President Donald Trump, who had said he was considering abolishing Fema altogether.

Hamilton’s dismissal the following day was widely seen as punishment for his testimony, a view the White House did not contradict in its statements on his departure.