Senate panel advances FEMA nominee Hamilton 8-4; agency's future uncertain

The Senate moved one step closer on Wednesday to confirming the first administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since President Donald Trump took office last year.

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-4 to send Cameron Hamilton’s nomination to the floor. It was not immediately clear whether the full Senate would vote before it breaks for its August recess.

Background on Hamilton

Hamilton led FEMA in an acting role at the beginning of 2025 but was fired that May after testifying before Congress that he personally did "not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

Trump Administration's Stance on FEMA

President Trump has said repeatedly during his second administration that he would like to reduce the size and scope of the federal government's disaster management role, shifting more responsibility to state and local governments.

Trump created a FEMA Review Council last year to propose substantial changes to the agency, which is housed within the Department of Homeland Security. That group released its recommendations in early May, though neither the administration nor Congress has taken steps to implement those proposals.

Hamilton's Confirmation Hearing

Hamilton said during his confirmation hearing in June that if confirmed by the Senate, he would ensure FEMA is "objective" and "fair."

He said he believes the agency's "disaster declaration process and also the federal mentorship that goes into it needs to be improved."

"I believe states need to receive better customer service. I have full faith and confidence in the FEMA workforce, but we can do better," Hamilton said. "And there's a significant amount of areas where that process should be simplified, better understood and we owe you answers, I think, much faster."

Ethics and Financial Disclosures

Hamilton wrote in the ethics paperwork required as part of the confirmation process that after being fired from FEMA in May 2025, he worked as a senior adviser at the Education Department until August.

After that, he was hired as the senior vice president of response and recovery at LTS, Inc., in Virginia, where he worked from August until April, when he became a senior adviser/senior counselor at the Department of Homeland Security.

Hamilton reported:

• A salary of $247,916 and a bonus of $350,000 during the roughly eight months he worked at LTS, Inc.
• An expected future bonus from the company valued between $250,001 and $500,000.

LTS, Inc., writes on its website that it is "an award-winning enterprise consulting" firm that focuses on emergency response, automated health care solutions, and occupational health services.

In the ethics agreement filed with the government, Hamilton wrote that he transferred ownership of his consulting business, Onward Operations LLC, to his spouse in March. He transferred ownership of his retail coffee business, Onward Valor LLC, to his spouse in January.