WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Cameron Hamilton, President Donald Trump’s , is facing questions from senators Wednesday as he seeks to run an agency roiled by the administration’s threats to dismantle it.
Hamilton led FEMA briefly last year until he was fired after defending its existence. His nomination comes as the Republican administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from an agency that has been heavily criticized by the president.
Hamilton was named temporary head in January 2025, just days before the president floated FEMA. Hamilton had never been a state or local emergency management director and had himself publicly criticized FEMA in the past.
Once on the job, he said he was concerned about threats to abolish the agency. At a House hearing last year, he said he did not 鈥渂elieve it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate鈥� FEMA. He was fired the next day.
If confirmed, Hamilton would be the principal adviser to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management. FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
He would be FEMA鈥檚 first permanent administrator in Trump鈥檚 second term. The agency has gone through , including Hamilton鈥檚 brief tenure from in 2025 from January to May.
Hamilton would take over an agency still reeling from at DHS. FEMA鈥檚 workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, operations and a protracted DHS shutdown.
Hamilton will need to ensure that FEMA is prepared for summer disaster season, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major changes after a council he appointed at the agency.
Among the other Trump nominees being considered at the hearing Wednesday is David Cummins for the Transportation Security Administration.
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