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9h ago

Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Without Explanation

The removal of the first woman and African American Librarian of Congress has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who accuse the administration of political interference and undermining institutional independence.

FILE - Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden arrives at the presentation of the Gershwin Prize, to be awarded to Joni Mitchell at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington March 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)
The Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden is seen attending the Library Of Congress "The Two Georges: Parallel Lives In An Age Of Revolution" exhibition press preview at The Library of Congress on March 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images)
Then-Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden during a discussion with historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham on Capitol Hill, on Jan. 6, 2022.
An American flag waves in the wind atop the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo

Overview

  • President Trump dismissed Carla Hayden via email on May 8, 2025, ending her tenure as Librarian of Congress nearly a year before her 10-year term was set to expire.
  • No official reason for Hayden's abrupt firing has been provided by the Trump administration, fueling calls for transparency from Congressional Democrats.
  • Hayden, appointed by President Obama in 2016, was the first woman and first African American to lead the Library of Congress, where she championed modernization and diversity initiatives.
  • Her removal follows criticism from conservative groups accusing her of promoting 'radical' content, part of broader cultural disputes over public institutions.
  • Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen has been named acting Librarian of Congress, as Democratic lawmakers propose legislation to safeguard the office's independence from political influence.