Trump government dismisses the Librarian of Congress from office
In a shocking turn of events, the White House confounded many on Thursday when they announced the ousting of Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. A representative from the Library of Congress confirmed the news to CNN.
The rationale behind Hayden's ouster remains murky, but it didn't take long for several Democratic congressional representatives to lash out at President Donald Trump, accusing him of waging a war on literature.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced his displeasure, calling Hayden's termination a "disgrace" and the latest in Trump's continuous endeavor to censor books, sanitize American history, and hark back to a bygone era.
Similarly, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried Hayden's removal as Trump's "latest foray in his relentless campaign to undermine the pillars of democracy and discipline public servants who refuse to heed his every whim."
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
Hayden took office as the Librarian of Congress in September 2016, making history as the first woman and African American to hold the position. With about a year and a half left in her 10-year term, this unexpected event has left many questioning the future of the Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress, the world's largest library and the US Congress' chief research arm, houses over 178 million items, encompassing books, photographs, musical instruments, and ancient artifacts.
During her tenure, Hayden expressed her intentions to bring the library's resources to audiences who may not have direct access to the Washington D.C. building. In 2022, she made headlines when she allowed singer and flutist Lizzo to play President James Madison's 200-year-old crystal flute onstage at her Washington, D.C. concert.
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico praised Hayden for making the Library of Congress accessible to the masses, both online and offline. He remarked, "While President Trump seeks to impose literary restrictions and dictate what Americans should or shouldn't read, Dr. Hayden has dedicated her career to fostering a culture of literacy and knowledge."
With Hayden's termination still sparking outrage and debate, it remains to be seen how this development will shape the landscape of literature and knowledge dissemination in the United States.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN's Jamie Gangel and Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.
[1] - Carla Hayden: Profile, https://www.loc.gov/about/library-of-congress/librarians/hayden/[2] - Donald Trump, Library Controversies, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/us/politics/donald-trump-political-scandals.html[3] - American Accountability Foundation, https://www.accountabilitynow.org/about-us/
- Following the ousting of Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, several Democratic leaders criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of waging a war on literature and censorship.
- Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lambasted Hayden's termination as a disgrace and a part of Trump's ongoing efforts to control books and sanitize American history.
- Senator Martin Heinrich praised Hayden for making the Library of Congress more accessible to the public, pointing out that while Trump seeks to impose restrictions on literature, Hayden has fostered a culture of literacy and knowledge.
- The removal of Hayden, the first woman and African American to hold the position, has left many questioning the future of the Library of Congress and its role in war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, as well as in the dissemination of artifacts related to war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news.
