White House fires Librarian of Congress

The White House has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was the first woman and the first African-American in the role.

“Tonight, the White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden that she has been relieved of her position,” a spokesperson for the Library of Congress told The Hill news outlet on Thursday.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., announced Hayden's firing on Thursday.

“Over the course of her tenure, Dr. Hayden brought the Library of Congress to the people, with initiatives that reached into rural communities and made the Library accessible to all Americans, in person and online,” Heinrich said in a statement.

“While President Trump wants to ban books and tell Americans what to read – or not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone. Be like Dr. Hayden."

Heinrich shared a screenshot of the email Hayden, who has a doctorate degree from the University of Chicago Graduate Library School, received informing her of her termination.

“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. Thank you for your service,” Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse wrote in the email on Thursday.

President Obama nominated Hayden, who became the Librarian of Congress in 2016. She had a year and a half left in her 10-year term before her termination.

Hayden let singer Lizzo play President James Madison's 200-year-old crystal flute during a concert in Washington, D.C., in 2022.