FEMA nominee Cameron Hamilton tells senators agency must “strike a new balance” to reduce disaster spending

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cameron Hamilton, said during a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the agency should “strike a new balance” in how it responds to disasters, with an emphasis on saving money.

Hamilton, who testified as FEMA administrator nominee, framed his remarks as a way to restore stability at an agency that has seen internal turmoil, while also aligning disaster funding decisions with the White House’s broader goal of scaling federal disaster aid, according to The Hill’s account of the hearing.

The nomination follows Hamilton’s earlier tenure at FEMA. Reporting described Hamilton as FEMA’s acting administrator last year, when he was removed in May 2025 after he had said FEMA would need to change how it operates following President Donald Trump’s push to reduce disaster assistance.

In his hearing testimony, Hamilton sought to navigate what he characterized as competing imperatives: returning FEMA to steady operations after a “turbulent year,” and addressing cost concerns tied to disaster response spending. The Hill reported that his approach was presented as a managerial adjustment rather than an abandonment of disaster-related responsibilities.

The hearing also underscored the question of how much federal disaster support should expand or contract across different types of emergencies and how quickly changes should be implemented. Hamilton’s “new balance” language pointed to that tension between response capacity and spending levels that the administration has sought to alter.

A Senate confirmation process would determine whether Hamilton becomes the permanent administrator. Until any confirmation outcome, FEMA leadership and disaster response remain governed by existing appointment structure and agency procedures, with Hamilton’s testimony limited to the record made before senators during the hearing.

The Hill reported that Hamilton’s prior removal in 2025 was tied to the way he discussed FEMA’s role amid efforts to scale down disaster funding, making his nomination and hearing testimony a focal point for senators assessing both operational experience and how the nominee would manage FEMA if confirmed.