In a surprising and controversial move, President Donald Trump fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, on Thursday. The dismissal, delivered via email, has sparked outrage and condemnation from Democratic lawmakers. A source within Congress confirmed to CBS News that the email, sent by Trent Morse, Deputy Assistant to the President, stated simply, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Librarian of Congress is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Other anonymous sources and spokespeople have corroborated the firing to various news outlets.
Hayden, appointed in 2016 by President Barack Obama, held the distinction of being the first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress. She was also the first librarian by profession to hold the position in decades, a notable departure from the tradition of historians and academics leading the Library. A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed the dismissal to The Washington Post but declined to provide further comment.
The reasons behind Hayden’s abrupt dismissal remain unclear, but the move has been swiftly condemned by numerous Democratic members of Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced the firing as “a disgrace and the latest step in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history, and reverse progress.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it Trump’s “latest foray in his relentless campaign to dismantle the guardrails of our democracy and punish public servants who don’t bend to his will.”
Representative Rosa DeLauro (Connecticut), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, demanded an explanation from the White House. In a statement, DeLauro highlighted Hayden’s dedication to accessibility, modernization, and democratization of knowledge, characterizing the firing as an affront to her historical achievements and a direct attack on the independence of a revered institution. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Hayden’s commitment to making reading and knowledge accessible to all, contrasting it sharply with Trump’s perceived efforts to restrict access to information.
Hayden’s 10-year term had approximately a year and a half remaining. The Library of Congress, the world’s largest library and the primary research arm of the U.S. Congress, houses over 178 million items, including books, photographs, musical instruments, and ancient artifacts. The sudden termination of such a distinguished figure has raised serious questions about the future of this crucial institution and the implications for freedom of information in the United States.
