The Senate voted to confirm Cameron Hamilton as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday, alongside approval of 74 other nominations submitted by the Trump administration. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, previously served as the agency’s temporary leader before being dismissed following his public opposition to eliminating FEMA.
Hamilton’s confirmation comes as FEMA faces considerable organizational challenges. The agency has lost more than 4,300 employees during the 2025 budget year, including over 1,500 through voluntary reductions, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The departures occurred during the tenure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose leadership prompted staff reductions, grant program disruptions, and delays in disaster assistance. Her successor, former Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, has taken steps to reverse some of these impacts, including rehiring for certain positions and removing bureaucratic approval requirements that had stalled billions in disaster aid.
The administration has signaled plans for substantial reforms to the federal disaster response system. At a recent governors meeting, Mullin characterized FEMA as “bloated” and indicated that responsibility would shift more toward states, with federal assistance reserved for major catastrophes. A Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council recommended sweeping changes in May that could accelerate assistance but potentially reduce overall federal support levels, though many proposals require congressional action. Democratic lawmakers have accused the administration of politicizing disaster relief, citing an Associated Press analysis showing the president approved 80% of disaster requests from Republican governors compared to roughly 60% from Democratic governors.
Hamilton pledged during his June Senate hearing to ensure FEMA operates “objectively, fairly and reasonably” while maintaining consistency in handling claims. He acknowledged the agency’s bureaucratic challenges and proposed pursuing cost savings, while also defending FEMA’s necessity. His previous termination gained support from some emergency management professionals, including Pete Gaynor, who led FEMA during Trump’s first term.
Additionally, the Senate confirmed David Cummins as Transportation Security Administration director and Daniel Perez as ambassador to Brazil among the approved nominees.
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