Carla Hayden, the first woman and first Black American to serve as Librarian of Congress, has been dismissed by President Trump as part of a broader removal of federal officials perceived to oppose his policies or support diversity initiatives. Hayden, appointed in 2016, had received acclaim for highlighting historically marginalized voices through the Library’s collections, but faced criticism from conservative groups for promoting children’s books with what they labeled as “radical” themes.
According to reports, Hayden’s termination came via email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, with no official reason provided. Her firing sparked swift backlash from Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling her a “trailblazer” and condemning the move as politically motivated.
Senator Martin Heinrich called it an escalation of Trump’s attacks on public institutions like libraries.
Hayden’s tenure, originally set to run through 2025, emphasized inclusion, notably acquiring archives from influential figures such as Chicano journalist Raúl Ruiz. Her leadership also saw the Library expand its National Recording Registry with culturally significant works, including the Hamilton soundtrack and music by Vicente Fernández.
This dismissal follows a pattern under the Trump administration of targeting federal staff involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and revising civil rights interpretations to focus on claims of anti-white bias.
