Trump Fires First Black Woman Librarian of Congress Amid Cultural Institution Upheaval

President Donald Trump abruptly fired Carla Hayden, the first African American and first woman Librarian of Congress, via email one year before her term was set to expire, sparking strong criticism from Democratic leaders who view the dismissal as an attack on an important American institution. The White House, through spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, justified the firing by citing concerns over Hayden's actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and the inclusion of books deemed inappropriate for children, although the Library of Congress primarily functions as a research library restricted to users over 16. Hayden's tenure was marked by modernization efforts, notably digitizing the library's extensive collections, which received bipartisan praise. The firing followed public criticism from conservative groups like the American Accountability Foundation, which accused Hayden of supporting books with radical content and those critical of Trump. Democrats, including Rep. Terri Sewell and Rep. Joseph Morelle, defended Hayden as a dedicated public servant and condemned the firing as part of an ongoing attempt to whitewash history and replace qualified officials with loyalists. This action is seen as part of a broader reshaping of American cultural institutions under the Trump administration.