Trump to nominate Cameron Hamilton to run FEMA after he was ousted last year

President Trump intends to nominate Cameron Hamilton to run the Federal Emergency Management Agency after he was pushed out as acting leader nearly a year ago, according to two people familiar his plans. 

Hamilton is a former Navy SEAL who worked for a defense contractor and previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Virginia. The New York Times first reported Hamilton has been tapped to lead FEMA again. 

He was ousted from that position less than a year ago after he told members of Congress that the agency should not be eliminated. At the time, Congress was reviewing the Trump administration’s proposal to slash FEMA’s budget, nixing $646 million in non-disaster grants during the 2026 fiscal year. His firing took place roughly three weeks before the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

The White House declined to comment. 

A DHS spokesperson told CBS News, “DHS has no personnel announcements to make at this time.” 

Hamilton did not get along with former Department of Homeland Security senior adviser Corey Lewandowski — who ultimately fired the former FEMA administrator at the direction of then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, but he has maintained many allies inside the Trump administration.