Trump fires head of the Library of Congress, Carla Hayden
Trump fires librarian of Congress in surprise move (Photo: Getty Images)
Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, was abruptly dismissed by President Donald Trump via a terse email, as reported by The Guardian.
In a sudden move, President Donald Trump terminated Carla Hayden's position as Librarian of Congress through a brief email stating her dismissal was effective immediately.
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Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American to serve as Librarian of Congress (Photo: Wikipedia)
Hayden, appointed in 2016, had been under scrutiny from conservative groups accusing her of promoting "radical" content.
The American Accountability Foundation criticized her for allegedly supporting children's books with progressive themes and materials authored by Trump critics.
This dismissal is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration removing officials perceived as unsupportive of its agenda.
Earlier the same day, the acting administrator of FEMA was also ousted following disagreements over the agency's role in disaster response.
Bipartisan backlash and legacy of service
The firing sparked immediate backlash from Democratic leaders.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Hayden as a "trailblazer" and condemned the dismissal.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled the action as "unjust" and part of an effort to "ban books and whitewash American history."
Hayden's tenure was marked by efforts to modernize the Library of Congress and increase accessibility. She was instrumental in initiatives that broadened public engagement with the library's vast collections.
Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, has been appointed as acting Librarian of Congress pending further instructions.
This event underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and federal institutions, raising concerns about the politicization of traditionally nonpartisan roles.
