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Under President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FEMA is restoring its original mission—serving as a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers states, tribes and local leaders. The agency is faster, more responsive and more capable than ever—delivering timely, effective support to Americans in times of crisis. FEMA announced that its newly confirmed Administrator, Mr. Cameron Hamilton, was sworn in on August 10, 2026, to lead the agency’s mission.
“I deeply believe in the FEMA mission, which is rooted in servant leadership — a principle I’ve remained committed to throughout my own career,” said Administrator Hamilton. “The American people deserve a FEMA that is not bogged down with bureaucracy, but one that is focused on preparing and supporting state, local, tribal and territorial governments to get the help that is needed to their communities.”
Mr. Hamilton is an accomplished emergency management and national security leader with more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership, public service, response and recovery operations, special operations, logistics and program management. He has served across multiple federal departments and the private sector, leading complex operations in high-threat environments. His career includes senior roles supporting crisis response, emergency medical services, health research administration, acquisition execution, strategic resource allocation and all-hazards emergency planning. Mr. Hamilton is recognized for his distinguished record of leadership, technical expertise, professionalism and proficiency.
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Dams are a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure. On August 5, FEMA published a funding opportunity for states and territories to make dams safer. The application period is open August 5 - August 31, 2026.
This funding is available through FEMA’s Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program. This program empowers states and territories to repair, replace, reconstruct or remove dams that put people and property at risk. Because many American communities rely on dams to prevent catastrophic flooding, this grant program is critical for disaster mitigation and prevention.
The Fiscal Year 2026 Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program is open to eligible states, territories and non-governmental organizations. Funding may be used to rehabilitate non-federal dams that are classified as high hazard potential by their state or territory’s dam safety program. Dams must also be located within communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
For more information on the funding opportunity, review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Additional information about the National Dam Safety Program is on FEMA's website.
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FEMA will host a webinar Wednesday, August 12, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, to provide an overview of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current funding opportunity and how to submit a successful application. Registration is required.
This session will cover updates, eligibility requirements and guidance for states, local communities, territories and Tribal Nations to submit high-quality applications.
The deadline to apply for this opportunity varies. After an activation, FEMA will notify eligible applicants of the deadline. Subapplicants should check with their respective applicants, as they may have an earlier deadline.
Webinar and Registration Details:
This session will be recorded and posted on FEMA’s website at a later date.
Topics will include:
- Overview of the FY2026 funding opportunity.
- Eligibility requirements and Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current program priorities.
- Guidance for submitting high-quality applications.
- Question-and-answer session.
FEMA Makes $56M Available to American Communities for Flood Risk Management
Under President Trump’s America First Resilience Strategy, FEMA made $56 million available on June 30 to support state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies, along with community organizations, in building and maintaining risk-informed approaches to flood risk management. FEMA is disbursing this funding through two separate grant programs that enhance the nation’s resilience to floods by supporting communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. These programs advance a risk-informed approach that treats resilience as an investment opportunity.
The funding opportunities span two grant programs:
- The FY 2026 Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element funding opportunity makes $15 million available to states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. This year’s funding opportunity also requires recipients to use a new Compliance Audit Tool to verify community compliance to strengthen program accountability and consistency. The application period closes Tuesday, August 11.
- The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Cooperating Technical Partners grant program funding opportunity makes $41 million available to communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. This year’s funding opportunity prioritizes completing the more than 1,000 flood mapping projects currently in progress across the country. The application period closes August 17.
Eligible applicants can review the full funding opportunities for both programs on Grants.gov.
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FEMA Publishes Funding Opportunities to Help Communities Prepare for Earthquakes
FEMA made $3.8 million in federal funding available to help communities address earthquake risk. The funding opportunities published span two separate grant programs:
The application period for both funding opportunities ends August 14. Comprehensive information on these funding opportunities, including eligibility criteria and allowable expenses, is available at Grants.gov.
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FEMA Corps Resumes, Application Period Open for 2027 Class
The FEMA Corps program has resumed and is now accepting applications for its next class of future emergency managers. The FEMA Corps program is restarting after being carefully reviewed and refocused to align with FEMA’s core mission and the Trump Administration's priorities. About 80 members and 10 team leaders will be selected to serve from February 2027 to November 2027.
Apply to be a FEMA Corps Team Leader:
Apply to be a FEMA Corps Member:
FEMA Corps graduates may receive an education award upon completion, which can be used for tuition or student loans, and relocation expenses. Additionally, FEMA Corps members receive paid housing and a weekly stipend for food and living expenses all while being deployed to serve communities in need across the country.
To learn more, visit AmeriCorps NCCC.
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