President Donald Trump dismissed Carla Hayden, the first Black woman to lead the Library of Congress, citing concerns over her focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hayden, who holds a PhD in library sciences, was appointed to the position by former President Barack Obama in 2016. The move to fire Hayden drew criticism from her supporters in Congress and the general public.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump believed taxpayers would be better served without Hayden in her role. Trump has been known to oppose efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has targeted programs and individuals promoting such initiatives.
Hayden had been working on initiatives to increase representation of marginalized communities in the library’s collections. She had also faced questions regarding a library modernization project that had experienced cost overruns and delays. Despite Hayden’s efforts to preserve American history and expand access to knowledge, her firing was celebrated by conservative groups aligned with Trump.
The decision to remove Hayden from her position as Librarian of Congress was met with criticism from Democratic members of Congress, who praised her dedication to promoting reading and education for all. The White House attributed Hayden’s dismissal to concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
