Trump's Controversial Firing of Carla Hayden: A Blow to American Libraries

President Donald Trump unexpectedly fired Carla Hayden, the first female and African American Librarian of Congress, as part of an ongoing effort to remove officials perceived as opposing his agenda. The dismissal sparked outrage among Democrats and further highlighted tensions over library content and governance.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Washington DC | Updated: 09-05-2025 10:18 IST | Created: 09-05-2025 10:09 IST
Trump's Controversial Firing of Carla Hayden: A Blow to American Libraries
Former US President Donald Trump (Screengrab from Fox former host Tucker Carlson's tweet) Image Credit: ANI
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In a sudden move, President Donald Trump dismissed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, igniting criticism from various political circles. This decision is part of a wider strategy by Trump to purge officials deemed unsupportive of his agenda.

Carla Hayden, appointed in 2016 and the first woman and African American to hold the librarian position, faced backlash from a conservative group accusing her of endorsing 'radical' literature. Her removal drew sharp responses from Democrats, who viewed this action as an assault on knowledge and cultural preservation.

Beyond the Library of Congress, Trump's administration has been actively replacing key figures across federal institutions, with recent exits in FEMA and the Pentagon illustrating a broader reshaping of leadership ranks. Robert Newlen will temporarily step into Hayden's role as the transition unfolds.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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