President Donald Trump terminated Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, effective immediately, as confirmed by an email from Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel. Hayden was the 14th person to hold this position, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, marking significant milestones as the first woman and first African American to lead the library. Her term was unique in that it was structured for ten years rather than a lifetime appointment.
Following her dismissal, Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen announced he would serve as acting Librarian until further notice. Hayden had recently testified before congressional committees about her modernization efforts at the library, positioning her reevaluation of its services as progressive. Her firing adds to a concerning trend as she is the second official to be dismissed after recent testimony, following Cameron Hamilton of FEMA.
Democrats condemned Hayden’s dismissal, with Rep. Joe Morelle criticizing Trump for targeting a dedicated public servant and vowing to propose legislation to change the appointment process for the Librarian of Congress to congressional selection. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed these sentiments, advocating for a Congressional commission to handle such appointments to prevent presidential overreach.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the move as “ignorant” and highlighted the potential negative impact on libraries and American culture, suggesting it aligns with Trump’s agenda against diverse historical narratives. Conversely, a conservative group, the American Accountability Foundation, supported her firing, framing it as a victory against what they deem “woke” policies in libraries. This incident has sparked a broader debate on federal appointments and censorship in cultural institutions.
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