AP: “President Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden as White House Continues Purge of Perceived Trump Opponents”

Ed. Note: We will update this report with additional media coverage and statements as they become available

Recent Additions (Last Update 1:30pm; May 16)

Donald Trump’s Library Of Congress Fight is Really About the Separation of Powers (via AP)

Especially worrisome to them is potential meddling with the Congressional Research Service, known as the nonpartisan think tank of Capitol Hill. It fields roughly 75,000 requests from members of Congress every year for research, legal expertise and other information critical for policymaking.

The discussions between lawmakers and the Congressional Research Service are considered so sensitive that they are protected under the speech or debate clause of the Constitution, which shields members of Congress from being questioned -– such as in court -– about official legislative acts.

The service’s “utility and trustworthiness would be substantially undercut if these inquiries were not protected or the Administration sought to shape responses to reflect its priorities,” said Hope O’Keeffe, a former associate general counsel at the Library of Congress.

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ALISE Statement On the Dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress

The Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) strongly condemns this unprecedented action. Dr. Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, has been a tireless advocate for equitable access to information, digital preservation, and community engagement throughout her career.

Abruptly removing Dr. Hayden without cause or due process destabilizes a cornerstone institution of our democracy and seeks to send a chilling message to librarians, library leaders, educators, and researchers nationwide.

The sole use of Dr. Hayden’s first name in the dismissal email is, at best, a breach of professional protocol and, at worst, a deliberately disrespectful, misogynistic, and racist slight against a trailblazing leader. It undermines the gravitas of her office and her success in that office, and betrays a fundamental disregard for the principles of inclusion and respect that libraries and our profession stand for.

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The termination of Dr. Carla Hayden, a pillar of the community and a dedicated public servant and steward of the Library of Congress, was likely within the president’s power, but we need to be clear about the reasons for her firing. According to a spin-off of the American Accountability Foundation – an organization whose primary purpose appears to be making target lists of civil servants – Dr. Hayden was ‘woke.’ She was also the first Black person, and the first woman of any race, in the role. Anyone who thinks these things are unconnected lives in a state of ignorance.

Read the Complete Statement (428 words)

Statement: ARL (Association of Research Libraries) Comments on the Dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden from the Library of Congress

“The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and its members are deeply disappointed in the administration’s decision to terminate Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress,” said Andrew K. Pace, executive director of the Association of Research Libraries.

“As the first professional librarian in over four decades to hold the post, Dr. Hayden’s appointment was historic in many ways—she was the first woman and African American to lead the Library of Congress. Yet her legacy extends far beyond those milestones. Over nearly a decade of service, Dr. Hayden transformed the Library of Congress into a more open, accessible, and celebrated U.S. institution, while reaffirming its role as the people’s library.”

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Report: Lawmakers Did Not Seek Hayden’s Firing as Librarian of Congress (via Politico)

Members on key congressional committees with jurisdiction over the massive library, who questioned Hayden at hearings in recent weeks, did not encourage the White House to remove her, the people said. In some cases, they themselves found out about Hayden’s removal Thursday through news reports and third parties.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday that Hayden, the first Black person and first woman to lead the Library of Congress, “did not fit the needs of the American people.”

“There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children,” Leavitt added.

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Interview: In Her Own Words: Fired Librarian of Congress Speaks With GBH in Last Week on the Job (via WGBH)

Hayden told GBH she was concerned about efforts to ban books — especially restricting access to young people.

“This is part of really a realization that ideas can be very powerful,” Hayden told GBH’s Under the Radar host Callie Crossley last week, citing historical attempts to ban enslaved Black people from reading the Bible or giving them a limited version of the book. “The latest iteration of trying to limit what people have access to in terms of ideas is part of a historical thread of looking at what would happen if people that you might be trying to control or influence were able to get other information that is different from what you are presenting.”

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—–End Update—–

From Politico:

President Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Thursday, according to a library spokesperson and an email obtained by POLITICO.

“Carla, 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,” wrote Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse in an email to Hayden sent at 6:56 p.m.

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From Roll Call

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and as of Thursday evening had not publicly announced her removal. A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed that “the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position.”

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From Words and Money:

Notably, Hayden appeared before Congress at a House Administration Committee meeting on May 6, which was, as usual, cordial and without drama—though Republican committee Bryan Stiel did ask about construction delays with the library’s Visitor Experience Master Plan, noting that the project was not on track to be completed by the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

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From CNN

While the reason for Hayden’s removal was not immediately clear, several congressional Democrats swiftly criticized President Donald Trump and accused him of targeting books.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a statement called Hayden’s termination “a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock.”

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From the Associated Press:

The dismissal was disclosed in statements from three top House Democrats and confirmed by a separate person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity before it was made public.

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More Media Coverage

• AP: Poets Laureate Criticize Trump’s Firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden
• First Branch Forecast (Daniel Schuman)
• NPR
• New York Times
• Publishers Weekly
• Reuters
• The Hill
• Washington Post

Statements

• American Library Association Praises Service of Dr. Carla Hayden, Decries “Unjust Dismissal” of Librarian of Congress (via ALA)
• Authors Alliance: Carla Hayden Removed as Librarian of Congress and What This Could Mean For Authors
• Connecticut Library Association: In Response to the May 8th Firing of Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden
• Enoch Pratt Public Library (Baltimore): In Support of Dr. Carla Hayden
• EveryLibrary: President Trump Fires the Librarian of Congress and Now Congress Must Push Back
• Public Knowledge Condemns President Trump’s Lawless Assault on Copyright Office, Baseless Termination of Librarian of Congress
• Urban Libraries Council on the Dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden

Statements by Members of Congress

• Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD; via X)
• Sen. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
• Rep. Jason Crown (D-CO; via X)
• Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY; via X)
• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
• Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
• Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
• Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA; via X)
• Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (House Leader, D-NY)
• Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
• Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA)
• Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA; via X)
• Sen Edward Markey (D-MA; via X)
• Rep. Joe Morrelle (D-NY;via X)
• Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
• Rep. Johnny  Olszewski (D-MD)
• Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA; via X)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD; via Threads)
• Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI; via X)
• Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV; via X)
• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD; via X)

Video

• Full House Committee on Administration Hearing on Oversight of the Library of Congress (May 6, 2025)
• Carla Hayden Discusses Being First Woman and African-American to Serve as Librarian of Congress (via CBS News; Feb. 21, 2020)
• View/Keyword Search Dr. Hayden’s 72 Appearances on C-SPAN

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