Cameron Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency | |
Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Karen Evans (acting) |
| In office January 22, 2025 – May 8, 2025 Acting | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Tony Robinson (acting) |
| Succeeded by | David Richardson (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1986 or 1987 (age 39–40) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Karen Hamilton |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Campbell University (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 2005–2015 |
| Unit | United States Navy SEALs |
Cameron Hamilton (born 1986)1 is an American business executive and government official who served as the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from January to May 2025. Before his FEMA appointment, he was director of business strategy for a defense contractor in Virginia. He previously served as a Navy SEAL.2
Hamilton was fired on May 8, 2025.3 In April 2026, The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump was considering renominating Hamilton to lead FEMA again,4 and Hamilton was formally renominated on May 11.5
Career
Hamilton enlisted in the United States Navy in 2005, receiving an honorable discharge after ten years.6 He served as a supervisory emergency management specialist at the Department of State from 2015 to 2020. He then became director of emergency medical services at the Department of Homeland Security, where he oversaw approximately 4,000 emergency medical technicians along the southern border until 2023.27
Hamilton ran for the 2024 Republican primary for Virginia's 7th congressional district, finishing second with 37.2% of the vote behind Derrick Anderson's 45.2%. Anderson subsequently lost the general election to Eugene Vindman by a narrow margin.8 Following his primary defeat, Hamilton became vice president of Feds for Freedom, a conservative nonprofit organization. He gained prominence on social media for his criticism of FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene during the Biden administration.7
Hamilton's selection as acting FEMA administrator departed from post-Hurricane Katrina precedent, where the agency had been led by disaster management professionals with state or local emergency management experience.2
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Hamilton appeared before a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security where he advocated for the agency, saying, "I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency."9 He was fired the next day and replaced with another acting administrator.10 In April 2026, Trump plans to nominate Hamilton to lead FEMA again.11
Personal life
Hamilton is married and has three children.6 He is Christian.7
References
References
- King, Kimberly. "Profile: Trump appointed new FEMA interim director Cameron Hamilton". WLOS. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- Flavelle, Christopher (January 22, 2025). "Former Navy SEAL Said to Be Interim Head of FEMA". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- Frank, Thomas (May 8, 2025). "FEMA chief is fired". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- "Trump Is Said to Be Poised to Nominate Cameron Hamilton to Run FEMA". The New York Times. April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- "Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. May 11, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
- "Cameron Hamilton, Virginia". Special Operations Association of America. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- Frank, Thomas. "He asked: 'What the hell is going on with FEMA?!' Now he's in charge of the agency". Politico. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- Armus, Teo (May 21, 2024). "Backed by rival GOP factions, vets in Va. primary look similar on paper". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- Flavelle, Christopher (May 8, 2025). "Leader of FEMA Is Dismissed as Trump Administration Takes Aim at the Agency". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- Megerian, Chris, Aoun, Gabriela, FEMA’s acting administrator is replaced a day after congressional testimony, The Associated Press, May 8, 2025
- Cohen, Gabe (April 16, 2026). "Less than a year after being fired, former FEMA chief Cameron Hamilton is set to be reinstalled by Trump". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2026.