Trump fires longtime Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

Published: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 2:57 am

**Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in Surprise Move**

In a sudden move that has sparked controversy, President Donald Trump has fired Carla Hayden, the longtime Librarian of Congress. A congressional source confirmed the news to CBS News, revealing that Hayden received an email Thursday from Trent Morse, a deputy director of presidential personnel, informing her of her immediate termination. The White House has been contacted for comment, but as of this writing, has not released a statement.

Hayden, who has held the prestigious position since 2016, made history as the first woman and African American to serve as Librarian of Congress. Before her appointment, she served as the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1993 to 2016.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from prominent Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the firing, calling it an "unjust decision" and a "disgrace." He accused Trump of attempting to "ban books, whitewash American history, and turn back the clock." Representative Joe Morelle of New York, the ranking member on the Committee on House Administration, echoed these sentiments, labeling the firing an "ignorant decision" with potentially negative consequences for American libraries and copyrighted interests.

Hayden herself, in a 2020 interview, reflected on the significance of her role, stating, "Personally, being a person of color, it means so much because people who look like me were forbidden by law to learn to read."

BNN's Perspective: While the abrupt nature of the firing raises concerns, it's important to remember that presidential administrations often bring in their own personnel. However, the lack of explanation and the strong reactions from both sides of the aisle suggest this decision may have political motivations, and the impact on the Library of Congress and its mission should be carefully considered.

Keywords: Trump, Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, fired, termination, Donald Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, Joe Morelle, Library of Congress, politics, news, breaking news, White House, Enoch Pratt Free Library, African American, first woman, Congress, books, American history.

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