Trump Nominates Cameron Hamilton as FEMA Administrator

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton on Monday to serve as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, marking a return for the former Navy SEAL who was dismissed last year from a temporary leadership role at the agency after publicly defending its continued operation.

The nomination signals a shift by the Trump administration away from earlier suggestions of dismantling FEMA, an independent agency within the Department of Homeland Security that coordinates federal responses to disasters. Hamilton, during his prior stint as acting administrator from January to May 2025, had argued that eliminating the agency would not serve the country's interests. Trump has frequently criticized FEMA for inefficiencies and past handling of emergencies, but recent actions indicate a move toward bolstering rather than dissolving it.

If confirmed by the Senate, Hamilton would become FEMA's first permanent leader during Trump's second term and serve as the primary adviser on emergency management to the president and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The agency has cycled through three temporary administrators in recent months amid ongoing turmoil. Its...