President Donald Trump plans to nominate Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL he fired as acting FEMA administrator last year, to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency on a permanent basis. Trump offered Hamilton the position during a White House meeting on Wednesday with incoming Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Hamilton served as acting FEMA administrator from January 22 to May 8, 2025, shortly after Trump began his second term. A Navy SEAL veteran with a decade of service including four overseas deployments, Hamilton previously worked as an emergency management specialist at the State Department and directed emergency medical services for the Department of Homeland Security along the southern border. He also ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 Republican primary for Virginia's 7th congressional district.

The administration removed Hamilton one day after he testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee that eliminating FEMA would not serve the American people. "I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton stated on May 7, 2025. His remarks contradicted early statements from Trump, who suggested FEMA should "go away," and then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who pursued aggressive overhauls including workforce cuts of about 30 percent.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cited Hamilton's testimony as contrary to administration goals at the time. Hamilton later described tensions with Noem and Trump ally Corey Lewandowski, who felt he moved too slowly on reforms. David Richardson then took over as acting administrator, marking the third temporary leader in 15 months without a permanent nominee.

The prospective nomination signals a shift under Mullin, confirmed last month, who has reversed some Noem policies such as a rule requiring personal approval for spending over $100,000 and emphasized reforms over elimination. FEMA has faced staff losses, morale issues, and a multibillion-dollar aid backlog amid backlash from states and Republicans. Hamilton has praised Mullin and expressed support for cutting waste while preserving the agency.

Senate confirmation remains required, and Hamilton's limited state-level disaster experience could draw scrutiny under post-Hurricane Katrina law mandating such qualifications for the administrator. Neither the White House nor Hamilton has commented publicly on the matter as of Friday evening.