Democrats voice outrage following news of Trump ending Librarian of Congress' tenure: "Shameful act"
Tossing the Librarian: President Trump Boots Carla Hayden
The Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, found herself out of a job on a bitter-cold Thursday night after receiving an email from the White House's Presidential Personnel Office, with President Trump pulling the trigger. Hayden, who was the first woman and the first African American in the role, had served since 2016, nominated by former President Obama.
Democrats scorched the earth after learning of Hayden's dismissal, taking Trump to task for yet another move to restrict access to knowledge and slamming the door on progress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., hailed Hayden as an "accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress."
"Donald Trump's unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history, and turn back the clock," he fumed. The Library of Congress serves as a treasure trove for the nation, housing the papers of dozens of presidents and Supreme Court justices, and holding invaluable collections of books, artwork, music, and historical documents.
The axing of Hayden comes as the Trump administration has shown little mercy for officials who don't toe the party line, purging supporters of progressive ideologies - from the DoJ to the Pentagon and beyond. In a peculiar twist, on the same day as Hayden's firing, former acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton found himself out of a job of his own, following his scathing stance against the dismantling of the FEMA.
Hayden had faced criticism from the America First activist group, the American Accountability Foundation, which accused her of being "woke, anti-Trump," and daring to promote books about transgender kids[1][2]. In reaction, Congressional leaders have voiced their intentions to introduce legislation that would remove the president's power to hire and fire the Librarian of Congress, aiming to ensure independent leadership of the institution.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the fight for the freedom of ideas and the voice of the people hangs in the balance. For now, the future of the Library of Congress remains uncertain under Trump’s administration. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
[1] The Hill, "Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden reportedly fired by Trump," May 8, 2025
[2] CNN, "Trump fires Librarian of Congress in reportedly aggressive move," May 8, 2025
- Lawmakers have expressed their plans to introduce a policy to remove the president's authority to hire and fire the Librarian of Congress, aiming for an independent leadership in policy-and-legislation matters related to the institution.
- The ongoing criticism faced by Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, from groups like the American Accountability Foundation, accused her of promoting books about transgender kids, may have contributed to her dismissal by President Trump.
- In general-news, the firing of Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American Librarian of Congress, has sparked a heated debate among lawmakers, was reported by The Hill [1] and CNN [2].
- Prior to her dismissal, Hayden, who served since 2016 and was nominated by former President Obama, had maintained her general principle to ensure access to knowledge and progress through the Library of Congress, which houses valuable collections of books, artwork, music, and historical documents.
