During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked why head librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was fired by the Trump administration
The White House has come clean about the dismissal of Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. In her weekly media update, press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that the Trump administration had determined Hayden “did not fit the needs of the American people.”
During the presser, a reporter asked, “The president fired the librarian of Congress. Why did he choose to do that?” Without missing a beat, the 27-year-old Leavitt promptly responded.
“We felt that she did not fit the needs of the American people,” Leavitt stated. “There were quite concerning things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.”
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Leavitt went on to say that the administration judged her as not serving “the interest of the American taxpayer well, hence her removal from the position.” The announcement added that Trump was “well within his rights” to sack Hayden, reports the Mirror US.
Politico broke the news that Hayden’s departure was communicated through a blunt email. “Carla, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately,” wrote Trent Morse, Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, in a no-nonsense message.
The note wrapped up with a curt, “Thank you for your service.”
Hayden’s sacking has sparked fury among congressional Democrats. Rep. Joe Morelle, the senior Democrat in charge of the library, blasted Trump for “firing a patriotic public servant.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also slammed the dismissal, labeling Trump’s move as “unjust” and a “disgrace.”
Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico took to Twitter with a scorching rebuke, accusing the president of escalating his attack on American libraries.
“President Trump fired our nation’s Librarian, Dr. Carla Hayden, by email at 6:56 p.m. tonight, taking his assault on America’s libraries to a new level,” Heinrich tweeted on X. “Throughout her term, Dr. Hayden made the Library of Congress more accessible than ever, launching initiatives that extended its reach into rural areas and ensured all Americans could engage with it, both in person and online.”
Hayden, who was the first African American and the first woman to hold the position as the Librarian of Congress, was confirmed by the Senate in 2016 with a 74-18 vote after being nominated by President Barack Obama, whom she knew from her time at the Chicago Public Library.
Following her confirmation, Hayden quickly became an integral part of the library, actively engaging with the public through social media and enhancing the library’s event offerings. She even spearheaded a strategic plan for the institution and was in the midst of revamping the entire visitor experience.
She envisioned a novel approach for visitors to experience the iconic reading room. However, Hayden faced repeated criticism from House Republicans regarding escalating costs and delays associated with the project.
Reports indicate that, prior to her termination, Hayden became the focus of an activist group known as the American Accountability Foundation, which leveled accusations against her, labeling her as “woke, anti-Trump, and promoting trans-ing kids.”
