President Donald Trump terminated Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, effective immediately, according to an email obtained by NBC News. The email, sent by Trent Morse of presidential personnel, stated her position was terminated on behalf of Trump. Robert Newlen, the Principal Deputy Librarian, communicated Hayden’s dismissal to library employees and announced he would serve as the acting Librarian until further notice.
Hayden, appointed by Barack Obama in 2016, was the first woman and African American to hold the role in the Library of Congress’s 225-year history. Notably, she was also the first to serve a ten-year term rather than a lifetime appointment. Hayden previously led the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore and had recently testified before Congress about her modernization efforts at the Library of Congress.
Her dismissal prompted strong backlash from Congressional Democrats. Rep. Joe Morelle criticized Trump’s actions as targeting public servants, asserting that Hayden was an “American hero.” He announced plans to propose legislation to ensure the Librarian of Congress is appointed by Congress, not the president. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed this sentiment, advocating for a congressional commission to appoint the Librarian to safeguard against what he termed Trump’s politicization of federal appointments.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the firing as “ignorant” and said it would adversely affect American libraries and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, a conservative group, the American Accountability Foundation, had previously criticized Hayden for promoting “woke” ideologies and publicly praised her termination. Overall, Hayden’s firing has sparked a debate about the politicization of library leadership and government appointments.
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