Trump to tap ousted FEMA leader to head disaster agency

Cameron Hamilton, who was fired from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) almost a year ago, is expected to be tapped by President Trump once again to lead the disaster relief agency, according to multiple reports.

A source who was not authorized to discuss the plans publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that Trump offered Hamilton, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2024, the job on Wednesday.

The president has not personally announced the nomination, which was first reported by The New York Times.

Hamilton was ousted in May after serving as acting FEMA administrator, a day after he testified on Capitol Hill that he did not think it was in the public’s interest to eliminate the agency.

The Trump administration has moved to reshape the agency, the agency responsible for distributing money to help with disaster recovery, since taking office, slashing the size of the workforce as it pushes states to take charge of their own relief efforts.

Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 that established a FEMA “Review Council,” a group of 20 individuals led by the secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and Defense Department tasked with recommending changes to the agency.

FEMA’s future faces some uncertainty now that former Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is heading DHS, having assumed the role from Kristi Noem, who was fired in March.

Mullin pledged during his confirmation hearing to end Noem’s controversial policy that required her to personally review grants and contracts over $100,000, a rule lawmakers alleged held up billions of dollars for disaster recovery efforts.

He also said that FEMA should be “restructured, not eliminated,” but would not commit to stopping proposed staffing cuts.

The president has not nominated a permanent FEMA director in his second term, relying instead on acting officials to oversee the agency.

Hamilton’s path to Senate confirmation, if Trump announces a nomination and sticks with it, could be rocky due to him having never served as a state emergency management director, the AP noted.

A federal law passed in 2006 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina required that FEMA administrators have “not less than five years of executive leadership and management experience,” as well as extensive experience in crisis management or another related field.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Administration News

Senate GOP losing patience with Speaker Johnson as DHS faces crisis

Popular weight loss medications linked to hidden side effects, study finds

White House budget director Vought declines to tell senators cost of Iran war

House GOP passes short-term FISA deal amid Republican infighting

Hegseth shares air rescue group's 'Pulp Fiction' prayer at Pentagon service

Thomas warns intolerance among younger generations will ‘infect’ courts 

GOP senator calls on House to impeach Boasberg after contempt hearings halted

Driscoll shuts down social media accounts after post celebrating Duckworth 

Mamdani’s city-run grocery plan draws pushback from local ...

White House OMB Director Russell Vought: DHS ‘disintegrating’

House Democrats file 5 impeachment articles against Hegseth

Trump’s Turning Point USA stop to bolster young voters

Driscoll on Army Gen. George’s ouster: I ‘personally regret’ he’s no ...

Trump claims Mamdani is ‘destroying New York’ with proposed second-home tax

Redistricting fight heads to grand finale in Virginia, Florida

Caine says 13 ships made ‘wise decision’ to turn around amid US blockade

Trump to tap ousted FEMA leader to head disaster agency

Fraud could be the last nail in the coffin for Gavin Newsom’s presidential ...

The Hill Podcasts – Morning Report

© The Hill