Former Librarian of Congress Joins Mellon Foundation as Senior Fellow

Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American Librarian of Congress, who was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump amid accusations of promoting "radical" literary material, has secured a new role as a senior fellow at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In this year-long position, Hayden will advise on advancing public knowledge through libraries and archives, continuing to engage in the cultural debates that surrounded her dismissal. Hayden emphasized the importance of libraries and cultural institutions as guardians of knowledge and pledged to work toward strengthening public access to information. The Mellon Foundation, which has a $15 million emergency fund aimed at offsetting federal cuts to arts and humanities programs, praised Hayden as a leader deeply committed to the public good during a critical time for public knowledge institutions facing challenges including funding withdrawals and censorship. Hayden's tenure at the Library of Congress included modernizing collections and improving accessibility, with initiatives to reach rural and online audiences. Mellon President Elizabeth Alexander expressed enthusiasm for Hayden's appointment, highlighting her role in supporting the foundation's efforts to sustain arts and cultural engagement nationwide.