In a deeply troubling move, the Trump administration has abruptly fired Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress.

Dr. Hayden is a nationally respected librarian, archivist, and scholar. Appointed in 2016 with bipartisan support, she has spent years modernizing the Library of Congress, expanding public access to its archives, and championing transparency, digitization, and inclusive programming.

Her removal appears to be politically motivated and without cause — part of a growing pattern of the Trump administration targeting nonpartisan institutions and cultural leadership.

We call on the Biden/Trump administration, Congress, and the Library of Congress leadership to:

Immediately reinstate Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress

Publicly explain the grounds for her removal and ensure future political interference is prevented

Dr. Hayden’s leadership is a national asset. Her removal is a national loss.