Overview

• President Donald Trump fired Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress since 2016, through an email sent by the White House's Presidential Personnel Office on May 8, 2025.
• Hayden, nominated by Barack Obama and confirmed for a 10-year term, was the first woman and African American to hold the role in the Library's 225-year history.
• No official reason for the dismissal was provided, though conservative groups had criticized Hayden for promoting diversity and inclusivity in the Library's collections.
• Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, condemned the firing as politically motivated and an attack on the Library's independence and mission.
• Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen has been named acting Librarian of Congress, while Democrats propose legislation to transfer appointment authority to Congress.