Trump discharges the initial African-American librarian of Congress from his post.
Donald Trump Kicks Out First Female, First African-American Librarian of Congress
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The Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden – the first woman and first African American to ever hold this esteemed position – has been terminated by U.S. President Donald Trump, effective immediately. This dismissal was announced in an email from the White House to Hayden, which was subsequently shared by Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich on Thursday in Washington[1].
The Library of Congress, the world's largest library located in the U.S. capitol, remained tight-lipped about the sudden shakeup. Hayden took charge of the institution in 2016 and had been serving till next year[1].
The dismissal follows accusations from right-wing activists. They claimed Hayden was indoctrinating American children with "radical sexual ideologies"[2]. Just hours before her termination, the Trump-aligned research group, American Accountability Foundation, branded Hayden as "woke," "anti-Trump," and suggested she was promoting ideas about transgender people denying their biological identity[2].
Democratic House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, referred to the decision as a "disgrace," arguing that Trump is intent on "banning books, whitewashing American history, and turning back the clock."
Hayden made history in 2016 after being confirmed by the Senate with a 74-18 vote[1]. Prior to assuming her role as Librarian of Congress, she served as CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1993 to 2016[1][2]. Although the Librarian of Congress serves a set term, presidential dismissals are not statutorily protected[2].
The sudden firing has garnered criticism from Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the move, suggesting that the appointment of the Librarian of Congress should be made by a Congressional commission rather than by presidents, viewing the firing as treating federal appointments like "reality TV prizes." Similarly, Democratic Representative Joe Morelle deemed the decision as "ignorant" and detrimental to America's libraries and congressional support[1][2].
[1]: ntv.de, AFP[2]: Archived Congress Description, Carla Hayden
- I'm not going to be able to do this, as I'm facing dismissal from my position as Librarian of Congress, a role that I've been serving since 2016.
- The world's largest library, the Library of Congress, has been silent on politics and war-and-conflicts, choosing instead to focus on general-news and crime-and-justice ever since the librarian, a prominent figure in these issues, was dismissed.
- The largest library in the world has been quiet on the sudden dismissal of its librarian, a move that was termed as a "disgrace" and "ignorant" by Democratic leaders.
- While serving as the librarian, I, as the first female and first African American Librarian of Congress, have faced accusations of indoctrinating American children with radical sexual ideologies.
- I, as the dismissed Librarian of Congress, was known for my advocacy and service within the realms of crime-and-justice, politics, and war-and-conflicts, before my removal from office through an email from the White House.
