President Donald Trump has fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. The termination, delivered via email on Thursday evening by Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel, was effective immediately and offered no public explanation for the decision.

There is no record of any other president firing a sitting Librarian of Congress prior to President Trump’s dismissal of Carla Hayden in May 2025. The position of Librarian of Congress has historically seen very few changes in leadership, with most previous librarians either retiring, dying in office, or resigning voluntarily.

Carla Hayden was only the 14th person to hold the office since its creation in 1802, and her predecessor, James Billington, served for 28 years before retiring in 2015.

Hayden, a historic figure as both the first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016 and confirmed by the Senate in a bipartisan 74-18 vote. Her ten-year term was set to end next year, and she was the first professional librarian in decades to hold the position, which has traditionally gone to historians or scholars.

Hayden’s leadership at the Library of Congress was marked by efforts to modernize the institution, digitize its vast collections, and expand public access. She also championed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which the White House reportedly cited as a concern, particularly regarding the inclusion of certain books in the library’s collection.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people. There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] and putting inappropriate books in the Library for children.”

 While the Library of Congress does acquire and preserve children’s literature as part of its vast holdings, it is not a public lending library for children. Its primary mission is to serve Congress, researchers, and the public for on-site study. Its main reading rooms and collections are open only to individuals aged 16 and older. Children cannot check out books or access most collections independently.

Other responsibilities of the Librarian of Congress include:

• Leads the Library of Congress: The Librarian of Congress is the chief executive of the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library and the main research arm of the U.S. Congress.
• Sets Policy and Management: The Librarian has overall responsibility for the library’s administration, policy direction, and strategic planning, ensuring the institution fulfills its mission to preserve and provide access to knowledge for Congress and the American people.
• Oversees the U.S. Copyright Office: The Librarian appoints and supervises the Register of Copyrights, manages copyright policy, and decides on certain copyright law issues, including aspects of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
• Guides Acquisitions and Collections: The Librarian oversees the acquisition of new materials, about 12,000 items are added daily, and works to modernize and digitize the library’s vast collections.
• Supports Congressional Research: Through the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Librarian ensures Congress receives confidential, objective research and analysis.
• Public Engagement and Outreach: The Librarian directs public programs, such as the National Book Festival, and works to make the library’s resources more accessible and visible to the public.
• Modernization and Technology: The Librarian is responsible for updating the library’s technology infrastructure and digitizing collections to keep pace with changes in information sharing and preservation.

Following the firing, Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen informed staff that he would serve as acting Librarian of Congress until further notice.