Trump nominates Cameron Hamilton, fired after defending FEMA, to lead the agency
ABC News: Politics — 2026-05-12 01:21:00 — abcnews.com
President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton Monday to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a notable comeback for the former Navy SEAL who was fired from his role as FEMA’s temporary leader last year after he defended its existence. His nomination comes as the Trump administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from promises to dismantle FEMA, an agency that has faced withering criticism by the president. The nomination of Hamilton, who argued abolishing FEMA was not in the country’s best interests, is the latest indication of that change.If confirmed, Hamilton would be the principal adviser to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management and FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. The agency has gone through three temporary leaders, including Hamilton’s brief tenure from January to May 2025. He would take over an embattled agency still reeling from Kristi Noem’s turbulent leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is part. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, policies that hamstrung operations and a 75-day-long DHS shutdown that ended April 30.Hamilton will need to ensure the agency is prepared for summer disaster season, just weeks away, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major reforms after a council he appointed recommended sweeping changes last Friday.“Now is the opportunity to stabilize FEMA,” said Michael Coen, the agency’s chief of staff in the Obama and Biden administrations.Hamilton, who had never been a state or local emergency management director and who had publicly criticized FEMA in the past, was a controversial choice when Trump named him temporary leader in January 2025, just days before the president floated the idea of “getting rid” of FEMA. His rupture with DHS officials began as he defended a federal role in supporting disaster-impacted states, tribes and territories.“Once the conversation shifted to, ‘Now we’re going to abolish,’ I immediately expressed concern,” he said last September on the “Disaster Tough” podcast with John Scardena, a former FEMA incident management team leader.DHS officials even subjected him to a polygraph test, accusing him and other officials of leaking details of a private meeting. He passed, but said he knew his dismissal was inevitable.At a May 7 appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Hamilton if he believed FEMA should be abolished.“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he replied. The next day, he was fired.Defending FEMA despite knowing it would likely cost him his job garnered respect and trust among people whose job it is to lead communities through crisis, said Scardena, now president of the consultancy Doberman Emergency Management Group, which trains emergency managers. “He won myself over and I think a lot of people by what he did,” Scardena said.But multiple current FEMA employees who requested anonymity for fear of retribution for speaking publicly told The Associated Press they had concerns over some of the actions taken under Hamilton.In 2024, Hamilton shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene. During his temporary leadership, FEMA ceased door-to-door canvassing to reach survivors after disasters, and canceled a multibillion-dollar resilience grant program, since restored by a federal judge. The Department of Government Efficiency gained access to internal FEMA networks containing survivors’ private information. FEMA staff were fired for fulfilling a reimbursement payment to New York City for housing undocumented immigrants as part of FEMA’s Shelter and Services program.Hamilton has said he believes FEMA needs major reform. He has said that he wants FEMA to move faster, that the agency is saddled with responsibilities he sees as outside its remit, and that some states have become too dependent on the agency. A Trump-appointed council last week urged sweeping changes to FEMA, which would require congressional action.“I think he’s going to need to rebuild trust across the agency,” said Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator under former President Joe Biden, adding that she believes Hamilton cares about FEMA and she appreciated his outreach to emergency management directors and former officials during and after his tenure. Hamilton could face pushback in the Senate confirmation process over never having led an emergency management agency, a common stepping stone to becoming administrator of an agency with over 21,000 employees.Federal law requires the FEMA administrator to have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and at least five years of “executive leadership and management experience.” Hamilton trained as a Navy hospital corpsman before spending a decade as a Navy SEAL on SEAL Team Eight. He then became a U.S. State Department emergency management specialist handling overseas crisis response, then directed emergency medical services at DHS.
President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton Monday to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), marking a notable comeback for the former Navy SEAL who was previously fired from his role as FEMA’s temporary leader last year after he defended the agency’s existence. This nomination comes as the Trump administration appears to be backing away from its earlier promises to dismantle FEMA, which has faced significant criticism from the president. Hamilton, who argued that abolishing FEMA was not in the best interests of the country, represents a shift in this narrative. If confirmed, he would serve as the principal adviser to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management and would be FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term.
Hamilton’s appointment follows a turbulent period for FEMA, which has seen three temporary leaders and is still recovering from the leadership of Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s workforce has been strained by mass staff departures and operational challenges, including a recent 75-day DHS shutdown. As summer disaster season approaches, Hamilton will need to ensure FEMA is prepared while also addressing expected reforms from Trump, who recently received recommendations for sweeping changes from a council he appointed.
How this sits against verifiable accuracy
The excerpt outlines the context of Cameron Hamilton’s nomination, emphasizing his previous defense of FEMA and the Trump administration’s shifting stance on the agency. To support claims about the necessity of FEMA and the implications of its potential abolition, one would typically expect evidence such as data on disaster response effectiveness, public opinion on FEMA’s role, or expert testimony on emergency management. However, the excerpt does not provide external verification or detailed evidence to substantiate these claims. Instead, it highlights Hamilton’s past criticisms of FEMA and his subsequent firing, which suggests a complex relationship with the agency that may impact his ability to lead effectively.
What the excerpt shows about verifiable lies
The excerpt does not present any statements from Trump that are explicitly labeled as false or misleading. While it discusses Hamilton’s previous criticisms of FEMA and his defense of the agency, it does not provide direct evidence that contradicts any specific claims made by Trump. The narrative focuses more on Hamilton’s experiences and the challenges faced by FEMA rather than on verifying or disputing Trump’s statements.
Targets and tone
The excerpt does not show Trump singling out, insulting, or speaking in a hostile manner about specific individuals or groups. Instead, it focuses on the internal dynamics of FEMA and Hamilton’s role within that context. There is no evidence of disparagement or hostility directed at any particular person or group in the provided text.
In conclusion, readers should recognize the complexities surrounding Hamilton’s nomination to lead FEMA, particularly in light of his past criticisms and the agency’s current challenges. While the excerpt provides insight into the political landscape and Hamilton’s qualifications, it leaves many questions unanswered regarding the implications of his leadership and the future direction of FEMA under Trump’s administration.