Overview

• President Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress after firing Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American to hold the role.
• Library of Congress staff denied entry to two senior Justice Department officials appointed by Trump, citing the lack of Congressional approval for the leadership change.
• Congressional Democrats have requested an inspector general investigation into potential unauthorized access to confidential legislative data by Trump appointees.
• The Library's acting leadership under Robert Randolph Newlen maintains that Congress has not directed how to proceed with Blanche's appointment.
• Critics argue that appointing an executive branch official to lead a legislative branch agency violates the separation of powers and undermines institutional independence.