WASHINGTON — The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing on June 17, 2026, for Cameron Hamilton, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The committee will delay voting on nominees until financial and background checks are completed, according to Committee Chairman Senator Rand Paul.

Hamilton's nomination and one other nominee have incomplete Federal Bureau of Investigation background investigations. Two nominees have not submitted required financial disclosure reports. Senator Gary Peters, the ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized Senator Paul for scheduling multiple nominees during a single hearing.

Hamilton would be the first permanent Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator appointed during President Trump's second term if confirmed. The agency has operated under four temporary administrators during President Trump's second term. Hamilton himself served as the temporary administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from January to May 2025.

Hamilton was removed from his temporary leadership role one day after testifying at a House committee hearing in 2025. During that House hearing in 2025, Hamilton stated that eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency would not be in the best interest of the American people. He had previously made public statements criticizing the agency prior to his current nomination. President Trump has also publicly suggested eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hamilton did not deliver an opening statement during the confirmation hearing. Senator Peters questioned Hamilton about partisanship in the approval of major disaster declarations. In response, Hamilton told Senator Peters that his review of disaster declaration requests would be objective, consistent, and compliant with existing law.

Hamilton has not previously served as a state or local emergency management director. If confirmed, he would serve as the principal emergency management adviser to President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The Federal Emergency Management Agency operates as part of the Department of Homeland Security. The agency's workforce has experienced staff departures and operational changes during a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. President Trump appointed a council that recommended operational changes to the agency.