On Thursday, President Donald Trump dismissed Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, effective immediately. This decision was communicated via an email from Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel, and later confirmed by a Library of Congress spokesperson. Hayden, who was the first woman and first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress and was appointed by Barack Obama in 2016, faced criticism following her termination.
Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, informed staff that he would assume her responsibilities in the interim. Hayden was noted for her efforts to modernize the library and was serving a 10-year term, a departure from the traditional lifetime appointment, with her term scheduled to conclude next year. Her dismissal drew significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who characterized it as an unfair targeting of a dedicated public servant.
Rep. Joe Morelle expressed his intention to introduce legislation to ensure the Librarian of Congress is appointed by Congress, rather than the president, emphasizing Hayden’s contributions and calling her an “American hero.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also echoed this sentiment, advocating for Congressional authority over the appointment process. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the decision as ignorant and warned of its negative implications for American libraries and democracy.
The dismissal followed heightened scrutiny from conservative groups, such as the American Accountability Foundation, which accused Hayden of promoting “radical gender identity” literature and welcomed Trump’s action as a step against perceived “wokeness.” In contrast, Democrats condemned the termination as part of Trump’s broader agenda to undermine governmental institutions.
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