Carla Hayden, the First Woman and African American to Occupy the Position, Had Been Targeted in Recent Days by a Right-Leaning Group
President Donald Trump has fired Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress and the first Black woman to ever hold the role. The dismissal was confirmed Thursday through an internal email shared with congressional Democrats and later obtained by NBC News. A White House staffer informed Hayden of her immediate termination on behalf of the president.
“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,” the email read.
Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen announced he will serve as acting Librarian until further notice. The Library of Congress later issued a formal confirmation of Hayden’s dismissal.
A Historic Appointment Cut Short Before Term Ends
Hayden was appointed in 2016 by President Barack Obama and confirmed by a bipartisan Senate vote of 74–18. She made history not only as the first woman and African American in the post, but also as the first Librarian of Congress to serve under a 10-year term limit, after a law signed by Obama ended lifetime appointments. Her term was set to expire next year.
Before joining the Library of Congress, Hayden led the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. Just days before her firing, she testified before Congress about her modernization efforts at the library, including updated systems, staffing, and public access initiatives.
Democrats Condemn Firing as Politically Motivated
Hayden’s termination follows that of Cameron Hamilton, former acting FEMA director, who was also fired after testifying before Congress. Critics see a pattern.
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, called the firing “ignorant” and said it would harm American libraries and copyright protections. He pledged to introduce legislation to remove presidential appointment power over the role.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed those concerns, saying the firing was part of Trump’s broader “campaign to dismantle the guardrails of democracy.” He urged that Congress, not the president, take control of such federal appointments.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the move “a disgrace,” linking it to broader GOP efforts to suppress information and “whitewash American history.”
Conservative Group Celebrates Firing of “Woke” Librarian
Hayden had recently been targeted by the American Accountability Foundation, a conservative nonprofit that accused her of promoting “radical gender ideology” and pushing a progressive agenda through library programming.
The group celebrated the firing online, posting: “THANK YOU @POTUS !!!! Woke & radical Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has been fired.”
While critics argue Hayden’s dismissal is politically driven, supporters continue to praise her lifelong dedication to public service, education, and the preservation of American knowledge and culture.
