Trump nominates fired FEMA leader to again lead the agency
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FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sign at Federal Center Plaza in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, a year after Hamilton was ousted from his position as FEMA's acting director last year.
Here are some details:
• Hamilton's nomination for the role has been sent to the U.S. Senate, the White House said on Monday.
• Hamilton was ousted from his position last year after he appeared to break with Trump and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the agency's future.
• Trump fired Noem in early March and tapped Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin as her successor.
• The U.S. agency that responds to natural disasters has seen significant staff cuts since Trump took office in January 2025.
• Experts have warned that shrinking or reorganizing FEMA could leave local and state governments more vulnerable to facing natural disasters alone.
• Reuters reported last year that Trump's allies had wanted Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, out for what they saw as insufficient action to strip down the agency.
• Noem's tenure as DHS chief was criticized by human rights and emergency advocates for the immigration crackdown overseen by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which is part of DHS, and for cuts to FEMA.
• Todd Lyons, the acting head of ICE, will leave the agency at the end of May, the Trump administration said last month.
• Last month, FEMA reinstated more than a dozen employees whom it placed on leave in August last year after they signed a public letter of dissent against the agency's leadership and its policies.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
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