President Donald Trump surprised many by dismissing Carla Hayden, the head of the Library of Congress, on Thursday, which sent Democrats into a bit of an uproar.
Hayden, who made history as the first woman and first Black librarian to hold the position, received a termination email from the White House. Reportedly, it simply stated her role would be ending soon, and thanked her for her service.
At 72 years old, Hayden was appointed by former President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2016 to lead the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution.
Her term is set to conclude next year, but this sudden dismissal came unexpectedly late Thursday night.
A representative from the Library of Congress confirmed that Hayden, who previously managed Baltimore’s library system, was indeed fired.
This surprising decision followed allegations from a conservative group, which claimed that Hayden endorsed a children’s book that aligns with a “radical” left agenda.
The American Accountability Foundation tweeted a criticism of Hayden just hours before the announcement, labeling her as out of touch and advocating for new leadership.
Democrats expressed their outrage over the firing, arguing that Hayden had modernized the library and improved access in rural areas as well as online. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised her as a “skilled, principled, and respected librarian.”
He condemned Trump’s decision as dishonorable, referring to it as part of a broader effort to restrict access to books and alter the narrative of American history.
“The Library of Congress is meant for the people,” he remarked, emphasizing the seriousness of this unprecedented action.
Rep. Joseph Morell from New York, who also oversees libraries, described Hayden as an “American hero.” The Library of Congress itself houses an extensive collection of national documents, including materials from nearly 20 presidents and over three dozen Supreme Court justices.
