President Trump dismissed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday night as part of his ongoing restructuring of American cultural institutions. Hayden was notable as the first woman and African American in the role, and the first to be term-limited. Her term was due to end the following year.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Friday that Hayden made concerning decisions at the Library of Congress regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the inclusion of inappropriate books for children. NPR has sought a comment from Hayden.
The Library of Congress serves multiple functions, acting as the main research arm for the U.S. Congress and housing the U.S. Copyright Office. It also manages the annual National Book Festival and holds a vast collection of books, films, recordings, and manuscripts, making it one of the largest libraries globally.
Hayden’s primary responsibility since her appointment in 2016 was to modernize and digitize the Library’s extensive collections, a task highlighted by a 2015 Government Accountability Office report citing the need for strong leadership to overcome significant IT management issues. Her efforts in enhancing the Library’s digital capabilities have been largely successful, with commendation from Republican Congressman Bryan Steil for her and her staff’s service.
While libraries have become central to broader cultural debates, the Library of Congress has largely avoided controversy. Recent discussions during a House Administration committee hearing focused on the digitization efforts and the remodeling of the Library’s main reading room.
Democratic leaders, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, expressed criticism over Hayden’s dismissal. Meanwhile, several senior staff members at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced their departures in a letter, amidst Trump’s previous proposals to eliminate the NEA. Over the weekend, arts groups were informed that their grants had been canceled, with the NEA refocusing funding priorities as per presidential directives.
Trump’s influence on arts institutions extends beyond these actions, with proposed staff reductions at the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Furthermore, it was reported that performers from an upcoming Kennedy Center production of “Les Misérables” plan to boycott the show attended by President Trump on June 11, a further indication of unrest within the arts community due to his policies.
These events represent a fraction of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape cultural and arts institutions since his administration took office.
