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Trump Fires Carla Hayden, First Black Female Librarian of Congress, Citing DEI Concerns

138 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated May 10, 2025, 03:16 PM

President Donald Trump on Thursday fired Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress, according to statements from top House Democrats and a confirmation later issued by the White House. Hayden received a brief two-sentence email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of presidential personnel, informing her that her employment was "terminated effective immediately." The dismissal comes roughly a year before the end of her 10-year statutory term, which began after her 2016 Senate confirmation on the nomination of President Barack Obama. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Hayden “did not fit the needs of the American people,” pointing to what the administration called her promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and the availability of “inappropriate books” for children. The conservative American Accountability Foundation had recently urged the administration to remove Hayden, who drew right-wing criticism last year for allowing singer Lizzo to perform on an historic flute once owned by James Madison. No successor has been named. Hayden, the first woman and first African American to lead the 222-year-old institution, previously headed Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library system. Only 14 individuals have held the Librarian of Congress role since its creation in 1802, and removals are rare. Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the firing as a partisan encroachment on a traditionally non-political post and called for Hayden’s reinstatement. The move follows Trump’s earlier dismissal of Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, intensifying accusations that the White House is purging perceived opponents across the federal bureaucracy. Conservative commentators and some Republican lawmakers applauded the decision, saying the Library of Congress should steer clear of what they view as ideological activism. The controversy is expected to spur congressional scrutiny of the president’s authority over positions intended to serve the legislative branch.

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Sources

reuters.com(7)washingtontimes.com(6)chicagotribune.com(3)apnews.com(3)

NEWS MAKER

@NEWS_MAKER

“Carla,” began the email from Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” 😅 whelp

WUSA9

@wusa9

President Trump has removed Carla Hayden from her post as Librarian of Congress, ending her historic tenure early. Here’s what led to the decision. https://t.co/db2Hxq0ahD

Molly White

@molly0xFFF

sure, maybe this is Leavitt not knowing what the Library of Congress is and does. more likely this is a direct admission that the Trump admin doesn’t believe books about race, gender, sexuality, or anything else “DEI” belong in a universal collection of knowledge https://t.co/XmQekdWhds