Trump Reinstates Fired FEMA Chief in Stunning Move That Undercuts Kristi Noem
President Donald Trump is set to put Kristi Noem in an awkward spot by bringing back an official she publicly fired less than a year ago.
Noem had appointed Cameron Hamilton as acting head of FEMA — which falls under the Department of Homeland Security — in January, but removed him from the role just a few months later.
Now, Trump is preparing to nominate Hamilton to lead FEMA again, this time as the permanent chief.
Noem fired Hamilton for speaking out against the administration’s plans to gut FEMA, but he also frequently clashed with her and Corey Lewandowski, the top Trump aide who has long been rumored to be having an affair with Noem, CNN reported.
At the time, a DHS spokesperson said that Hamilton’s firing was at the “discretion” of Noem to have the “personnel she prefers.”
Bringing Hamilton back into the fold is the latest eyebrow-raising reversal involving FEMA and DHS since Trump fired Noem in March, following a scandal-ridden tenure as homeland security secretary.
This includes her successor, Markwayne Mullin, bringing back Troy Edgar to serve as deputy secretary after he left the department when Trump tapped him as ambassador to El Salvador, following the collapse of his relationship with Noem.
This includes her successor, Markwayne Mullin, bringing back Troy Edgar to serve as deputy secretary after he left the department when Trump tapped him as ambassador to El Salvador, following the collapse of his relationship with Noem.
Trump offered Hamilton the job to lead FEMA on a permanent basis on Wednesday, sources told the Associated Press.
Hamilton’s reluctance to dismantle FEMA, as Noem demanded, was one of the biggest sticking points during his time as acting administrator last year.
“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton told a congressional hearing in May 2025. “Having said that, I’m not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination as consequential as that should be made.”
Hamilton was fired and escorted out of FEMA headquarters the following day.
Noem also made Hamilton take a lie detector test in an attempt to determine whether he had leaked details about a private meeting regarding the future of FEMA.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, needs Senate confirmation before he can lead FEMA full-time. His lack of experience as a state emergency management director and in senior leadership roles may hinder his confirmation process.
