President Trump has nominated Cameron Hamilton to serve as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who briefly led the agency last year as acting administrator, becomes the latest addition to a leadership vacuum at FEMA that has persisted since Trump took office.

The nomination follows a Trump-appointed FEMA task force releasing proposals Thursday aimed at redefining federal disaster response. The plan seeks to limit federal aid to “truly significant events” while accelerating funds to affected communities—a shift critics argue risks undermining emergency support systems.

Hamilton’s background includes managing emergency medical technicians on the southern border as a Homeland Security Division Director and serving as an emergency management specialist in the State Department, according to his biography. However, he has never held state or local emergency management leadership roles, a requirement under federal law passed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Hamilton’s appointment has drawn immediate controversy. He previously criticized FEMA’s operations and faced dismissal from DHS last May after publicly stating, “I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” His rupture with federal officials began when he defended a federal role for disaster-impacted states—a stance that clashed with Trump’s January 2025 proposal to “get rid” of FEMA.

Hamilton, who worked as director of business strategy for a defense contractor and ran unsuccessfully for Virginia’s U.S. House seat, has served as one of three temporary FEMA leaders since January 2025. His nomination comes as FEMA grapples with staff attrition, operational constraints, and the aftermath of a 75-day DHS shutdown that ended April 30.

The agency’s chief of staff under previous administrations noted the urgency: “Now is the opportunity to stabilize FEMA.” With summer disaster season approaching, Hamilton faces pressure to address systemic challenges while navigating expectations for major reforms from Trump’s council—a move critics warn could leave communities without critical federal support during emergencies.