President Donald Trump plans to appoint Cameron Hamilton, a former U.S. Navy SEAL whom the administration fired because the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s appearing chief final 12 months, as FEMA’s everlasting administrator, in accordance with an individual acquainted with the matter.
Hamilton was FEMA’s short-term chief from January to May of final 12 months however was fired in the future after testifying on Capitol Hill that he didn’t agree with proposals to dismantle the group charged with coordinating the federal authorities’s response to disasters, an concept Trump had repeatedly floated.
“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he advised members of a House Appropriations subcommittee.
FEMA has lacked a everlasting administrator all through Trump’s second time period and is at present on its third short-term chief, one thing critics have stated undermines the company’s effectiveness.
Trump supplied Hamilton the job Wednesday, in accordance with the particular person, who was not licensed to debate it publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity. The White House didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The New York Times first reported Trump’s intent to appoint Hamilton.
Hamilton’s nomination would come at a vital time for FEMA and as its future stays unsure. Trump has stated he needs to shift extra duty for disasters to states and has created a FEMA Review Council, anticipated to suggest sweeping reforms to how the company helps disaster-impacted communities.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has expressed assist for FEMA whereas calling for reforms, hanging a stark distinction from his predecessor Kristi Noem, who vowed to “eliminate FEMA as it exists today” and whose dealings with the overview council grew fraught.
It’s unclear how Hamilton would lead FEMA or what Trump expects from his management.
Hamilton’s relationship with DHS officers turned “very hostile” throughout his quick tenure at FEMA, he stated in a September episode of the podcast “Disaster Tough.” He wished to chop “wasteful spending” and “downsize the agency,” he stated, however not dismantle it.
Trump has not formally introduced the nomination and will change his thoughts. Hamilton may additionally face headwinds through the Senate affirmation course of over by no means having served as a state emergency administration director.
Federal regulation requires FEMA’s administrator to have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and at least 5 years of government management and administration expertise. If confirmed, he would develop into the principal advisor to the president and the Homeland Security secretary for all issues associated to emergency administration.
Hamilton spent a decade within the U.S. Navy Seals, serving on Seal Team Eight for 4 abroad deployments between 2005 and 2015, in accordance with his LinkedIn profile and a Congressional bio.
He then served as a supervisory emergency administration specialist on the U.S. State Department and because the Department of Homeland Security’s director of emergency companies for a number of years.
Hamilton ran for Congress in Virginia’s seventh district in 2024 however misplaced within the Republican major.
In a LinkedIn publish earlier this month marking 47 years since FEMA’s institution, Hamilton stated he was grateful to have served underneath Trump and alongside FEMA colleagues. “I wish my tenure had been longer,” he wrote, “as there is still much more work to do for reform.”
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