Story perspectives

Trump Nominates Ex-SEAL Hamilton as FEMA Chief Amid Staff Exodus

5/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton to serve as FEMA administrator, pending Senate confirmation.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, acted as FEMA chief from January to May 2025 after being removed earlier that year.
Since Trump returned, FEMA has lost over 5,000 staffers, hurting morale before the June 1 hurricane season.
A Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council has recommended reforms, including staffing reassessments and changes to disaster-assistance eligibility.

History

Historical Context

In August 2005 Hurricane Katrina inflicted $125 billion in damage and exposed FEMA’s operational failures under Director Michael D. Brown, who was removed and replaced by Vice Admiral Thad Allen. That 2005 leadership shake-up set a precedent; today the Trump administration’s nomination of a former Navy SEAL to head FEMA echoes the effort to restore agency credibility.

1 of 2

Story summary

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton to serve as FEMA administrator, pending Senate confirmation.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, acted as FEMA chief from January to May 2025 after being removed earlier that year.
Since Trump returned, FEMA has lost over 5,000 staffers, hurting morale before the June 1 hurricane season.
A Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council has recommended reforms, including staffing reassessments and changes to disaster-assistance eligibility.

1 / 2