Trump Nominates Cameron Hamilton to Lead FEMA

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton on Monday to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, bringing back the former Navy SEAL who served as acting administrator from January 2025 until his firing in May 2025. Hamilton was ousted after he clashed with former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and publicly opposed eliminating the agency.

At a May 7, 2025, hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, Rep.

Rosa DeLauro asked Hamilton whether he believed FEMA should be abolished.

“Once the conversation shifted to, ‘Now we’re going to abolish,’ I immediately expressed concern.”

“— Cameron Hamilton, September 2025 on the "Disaster Tough" podcast Hamilton appeared on the "Disaster Tough" podcast with John Scardena in September 2025 and recounted his stance. DHS officials subjected him to a polygraph test after accusing him of leaking details of a private meeting. He passed the test. If confirmed by the Senate, Hamilton would serve as the principal adviser to President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management. He would become FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. The agency has gone through three temporary leaders since Hamilton’s earlier tenure ended. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures following policies that limited operations and a 75-day-long DHS shutdown that ended in April 2026. A council appointed by President Trump recommended sweeping changes to the agency on Friday, May 8, 2026. Hamilton, who had never served as a state or local emergency management director, would take over an agency preparing for the upcoming summer disaster season. During his temporary leadership in 2025, FEMA ceased door-to-door canvassing to reach survivors after disasters and canceled a multibillion-dollar resilience grant program. A federal judge later restored the grant program. In 2024, Hamilton had shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene. The nomination signals a shift from earlier Trump administration statements about dismantling FEMA. Hamilton’s defense of a federal role in supporting states, tribes and territories after disasters had drawn respect from some emergency management professionals even as it led to his dismissal. Trump sent additional nominations to the Senate on the same day. He chose Kari Lake, who previously served as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica. He nominated Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano as ambassador to the Slovak Republic and David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration for a five-year term.”