Carla Hayden, who served as the Librarian of Congress, received news of her dismissal through an email sent by former President Donald Trump, a decision that immediately sparked strong backlash from her defenders.
Shortly after the news became public on the evening of May 8, Rep. Joe Morelle from New York, a Democrat, expressed his frustration online.
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He stated that Trump’s decision was harmful to American libraries, the country’s copyright system, and the vital services provided to citizens. He described the firing as shameful and unjustified.
Lawmakers React Strongly
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, also a Democrat, shared similar thoughts. He referred to Hayden as a close friend and said she was shamefully removed from office.
He reminded people that the Library of Congress holds an important place in the country’s educational foundation and promotes learning opportunities for everyone without discrimination.
Hayden got the role in 2016 after President Barack Obama put her name forward, and the Senate confirmed her in the following year.
She broke barriers by becoming the first woman and the first Black American to head the institution, which holds the title of largest library across the globe. The library also runs the U.S. Copyright Office and stores an enormous collection of printed works, photographs, videos, and historical documents.
Hayden’s Recent Appearance and Contributions
Earlier in the same week, Hayden had faced lawmakers during a committee session. She answered questions related to the library’s modernization effort, which had grown far more expensive than planned and missed its original deadlines multiple times.
Her professional background is in librarianship, and she first crossed paths with Obama while working at the Chicago Public Library.
She had recently focused on the “Of the People” program, an effort meant to include more materials from Black communities, Indigenous groups, Hispanic and Latino backgrounds, Asian American voices, and Pacific Islander histories in the library’s records.
Tension Around Diversity Initiatives
Trump has often spoken out against projects and individuals he sees as promoting values tied to inclusion, diversity, or equality. Following Hayden’s dismissal, the White House remained silent and did not issue any official explanation or comment regarding the action.
Several critics were upset not only about the decision to fire Hayden but also about how it was carried out. The message letting her go arrived in her inbox at 6:56 p.m. Eastern time, with no formal notice or advance discussion.
Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico reacted with strong words. He said that while Trump seems more focused on removing books or limiting reading choices for Americans, Hayden’s entire career has been about expanding access to reading and knowledge so that everyone has a fair chance to learn.
