On Thursday, President Donald Trump terminated Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, a decision communicated via an email from Trent Morse, the deputy director of presidential personnel. The Library of Congress later confirmed her dismissal. Hayden, appointed by Barack Obama in February 2016, was the first woman and the first African American to hold this position, which was created for her as a 10-year term rather than a lifetime appointment.
Her tenure included significant modernization efforts for the library, as detailed during recent testimonies before congressional committees. Hayden became the second federal official to be dismissed after testifying before Congress that week. Her termination has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Rep. Joe Morelle stating that she has dedicated her life to public service and calling Trump’s actions an unfair targeting of a public servant. He plans to propose legislation to shift the appointment power of the Librarian of Congress to Congress itself.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed this sentiment, urging that the Librarian position should be appointed by a congressional commission rather than the President. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the decision as “ignorant,” asserting it threatens libraries, copyright interests, and public services.
A conservative group, the American Accountability Foundation, had recently criticized Hayden for allegedly promoting “woke” literature and praised her termination, reflecting the political divide surrounding her dismissal. The ongoing controversies highlight tensions between differing ideologies regarding cultural representation and access to information.
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