President Donald Trump is planning to bring back Cameron Hamilton as the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), less than a year after he was removed from the job during Kristi Noem’s time as homeland security secretary.
Hamilton was named the acting director of FEMA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, in January last year while Noem was still in charge.
His time there ended in May 2025 after he publicly disagreed with Trump’s plan to shut down FEMA, which handles disaster response and recovery.
This move comes as Trump speaks out after making a strong comment that worried a close ally, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamilton often had conflicts with then-Homeland Security Secretary Noem and senior Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, who was thought to have a romantic relationship with Noem, according to CNN.
When Hamilton was let go, a DHS spokesperson said his removal was within Noem’s “discretion” to choose her preferred personnel.
Hamilton’s return is part of a series of changes at FEMA and DHS since Trump took over from Noem in March after a troubled time as the homeland security secretary.
This includes Noem’s replacement, Markwayne Mullin, bringing back Troy Edgar as deputy secretary after he left the department when Trump sent him to El Salvador, following a strained relationship with Noem.
Throughout Trump’s second term, FEMA has not had a permanent leader and is now being run by its third temporary director, which critics say has hurt the agency’s performance.
Trump offered Hamilton the job on Wednesday, according to an insider who asked not to be named.
The White House did not comment. The New York Times first reported that Trump intended to nominate Hamilton.
In other news, newly named Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced another major change at DHS.
Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a key figure in Trump’s deportation policies, will leave at the end of May, federal officials said.
Mullin praised Lyons as a great leader who helped make neighborhoods safer.
Lyons’ last day will be May 31.
“We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector,” Mullin said in a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press asking for more details about his resignation.
Noem’s current position, following her troubled time as homeland security secretary, was likely meant to stop her from running for a Senate seat, according to a report.
After Noem was publicly removed last month, she was quickly given the role of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, which kept her away from the March 31 South Dakota Republican primary deadline, reported PunchUp.
Last Friday, the Daily Mail reported that Noem’s current role may be ending soon.
“This position was meant to be a soft landing so it didn’t look like Noem was being fired immediately,” sources told the Mail.
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