Trump taps former FEMA chief Hamilton to lead agency again

Lauren Rosenthal and Zahra Hirji, Bloomberg News on May 11, 2026

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration selected Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is grappling with reduced staffing levels ahead of hurricane season in the Atlantic.

The White House sent Hamilton’s nomination to the Senate on Monday. If confirmed, the former Navy SEAL will return to the agency, where he briefly served as acting chief at the start of last year. Hamilton previously worked at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, and the State Department.

Hamilton’s nomination arrives at a pivotal time for FEMA. More than 5,000 staffers have left since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, contributing to morale concerns. At the same time, his administration has slashed or delayed grant programs, triggering lawsuits.

While Trump has questioned whether FEMA should exist, he has also authorized aid for major storms and fires since returning to the White House.

Hamilton had little major disaster response experience before his FEMA stint last year. He didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hamilton previously told Bloomberg News he was “publicly removed” as FEMA’s acting chief in May 2025. He left after testifying before a congressional committee that he didn’t support abolishing the agency.

Last March, however, he did sign a memo titled “Abolishing FEMA,” which was first reported by Bloomberg News, outlining pathways for the administration to dramatically downsize the agency. After leaving FEMA, Hamilton went to work in the private sector.

To help determine the disaster agency’s future and shape reforms, Trump created the FEMA Review Council. Its members include emergency managers, Republican political leaders and other elected officials. Last week, the council announced its final recommendations, including reassessing FEMA staffing, rethinking what disasters qualify for federal disaster assistance and more.

Hamilton’s nomination comes after Trump removed Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security. At DHS, Noem closely monitored FEMA’s spending, programming and personnel. Last year, she imposed a policy that required her office’s approval for any FEMA expense that exceeded $100,000. The move sparked bipartisan backlash in Congress over concern it would slow the government’s disaster response.

Markwayne Mullin, who previously served as a Republican senator from Oklahoma, took over as DHS secretary in March. He’s already overseen a series of changes at FEMA, including reinstating some staffers who had been put on administrative leave after criticizing the Trump administration’s cuts to disaster work.

The next hurricane season starts June 1. No hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. last year.

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(With assistance from Laura Davison.)

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