Overview

• President Trump has named Todd Blanche, a former defense attorney and current Deputy Attorney General, as the acting Librarian of Congress after firing Carla Hayden last week.
• Two new appointees from the Trump administration were barred from Library of Congress premises due to jurisdictional disputes, highlighting the separation-of-powers conflict.
• House Democrats have requested an inspector general investigation into potential executive branch overreach and improper actions targeting the Library of Congress.
• Critics argue that appointing an executive branch official to lead a legislative branch agency is unconstitutional and undermines congressional independence.
• Uncertainty remains over when or if Todd Blanche will formally assume the acting librarian role, as Congress has yet to provide direction on the appointment.