Trump to Nominate Cameron Hamilton as FEMA Administrator After Previous Ouster

President Donald Trump plans to nominate Cameron Hamilton to serve as the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), nearly a year after Hamilton was removed from his role as acting head of the agency. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL and combat medic, previously led FEMA in an acting capacity during the first five months of Trump’s second term. His removal followed his testimony to Congress in May 2025, where he defended FEMA’s continued existence, contradicting Trump’s earlier statements about dismantling the agency.

Hamilton testified before a House committee that FEMA had become an “overextended federal bureaucracy” and argued that it was often used as a financial backstop for routine issues that should be managed locally. He said this misalignment fostered “a culture of dependency, waste, inefficiency,” and delayed aid to those in genuine need. His testimony came as Congress was reviewing proposals to slash FEMA’s budget, including cutting $646 million in non-disaster grants for the 2026 fiscal year.

Despite his removal, Hamilton has maintained support within the Trump administration. He was reportedly pushed out by Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, with whom Hamilton did not get along. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have declined to comment on the nomination or personnel changes.

Hamilton recently met with Trump alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to discuss FEMA opportunities. Mullin, who was sworn in as DHS secretary just weeks ago, has reversed a controversial rule requiring his personal approval for DHS spending over $100,000. Hamilton praised Mullin’s leadership, particularly after Mullin’s visit to North Carolina to discuss recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene in 2024.

Hamilton expressed gratitude for his previous opportunity to lead FEMA and expressed confidence in Mullin’s leadership. If confirmed by the Senate, Hamilton would become the first full-time FEMA administrator of Trump’s second term, as the agency has been led only by acting officials for the past 15 months.

Trump had initially proposed winding down FEMA operations, stating the agency would begin “phasing out” after the 2025 hurricane season. However, following severe flooding in Texas, Noem said Trump no longer wanted to close FEMA but instead sought to remake it into an agency with new methods for deploying and supporting states.