By Amin Sobhani, NLIHC DHR Intern, Noah Patton, NLIHC Director of Disaster Recovery, and Meghan Mertyris, NLIHC Senior Disaster Housing Recovery Analyst
The U.S. Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on August 7 by a 51-47 vote. Administrator Hamilton was confirmed as part of an en bloc package of 74 nominees and was sworn in on August 10. He is the first Senate-confirmed FEMA administrator of President Trump's second term, taking charge as the agency manages a heavy wildfire and flood season, more than 1,000 open disasters, and ongoing workforce and operational changes.
Hamilton previously served as the senior official performing the duties of FEMA administrator from January until May 8, 2025. At a House appropriations subcommittee hearing the previous day, he said eliminating FEMA was not “in the best interest of the American people.” President Trump nominated him to return as administrator in May 2026. NLIHC previously reported that FEMA employees respected Hamilton's willingness to reconsider his early views of the agency. His nomination also brought renewed attention to how his background aligned with the position's statutory experience requirements and to his earlier public comments about FEMA assistance.
During his June 17 confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, senators asked Hamilton about consistency in disaster declaration approvals. Administrator Hamilton pledged to ensure FEMA is “objective, fair and reasonable, follows the law, and is consistent” when assessing requests for assistance. He also said FEMA should decide disaster declarations and reimbursements faster, simplify its processes, and rebuild staff capacity. Hamilton said he would not support a 2025 proposal to quadruple the damage threshold states would need to meet to access assistance and affirmed the importance of FEMA's disaster resilience programs.
Administrator Hamilton begins his tenure as FEMA's role and structure remain under active discussion. The agency's announcement of Hamilton's swearing-in emphasized the administration's goal of making FEMA a “lean, deployable disaster force.” Along with emergency response, FEMA is responsible for preparedness, mitigation, grant administration, coordination, and long-term recovery. The agency's capacity to carry out each of these functions will remain an area of attention as organizational changes move forward. NLIHC reported in 2025 that FEMA had been experiencing workforce reductions and capacity constraints during Hamilton's earlier tenure.
NLIHC is focused on how FEMA's policies and programs affect households with the lowest incomes. Renters, low-income homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness can face serious barriers when applying for aid, documenting eligibility, securing temporary housing, or appealing a denial. Hamilton's stated commitment to fairness and consistency will be relevant to the agency's approach to accessible applications, clear notices, timely decisions, and transparent distribution of assistance. These measures can help recovery resources reach survivors with the greatest needs without deepening housing instability.
With Senate-confirmed leadership in place, attention will now turn to FEMA's administration and broader policy direction. NLIHC and the NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition will continue monitoring the agency and advocating for passage of the bipartisan FEMA Act, which would restore FEMA as an independent agency, streamline access to assistance, strengthen transparency and accountability, and invest in mitigation and resilience. These efforts reflect NLIHC's continued focus on a disaster recovery system that is faster, fairer, and responsive to all survivors.