President Donald Trump’s abrupt dismissal of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden sparked outrage Thursday and a fierce rebuke from Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
“Every Member of Congress I know—Democratic or Republican—loves and respects Dr. Carla Hayden,” DeLauro said in a fiery statement. “A ‘fighter of freedom’ and a guardian of our nation’s truth and intellectual legacy, Dr. Hayden was just abruptly and callously fired by President Trump.”
The Connecticut Democrat called the firing “a direct attack” and “yet another example in the disturbing pattern of the President removing dedicated public servants without cause—likely to fill the position with one of his ‘friends’ who is not qualified and does not care about protecting America’s legacy.”
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Hayden made history as the first woman and first African American to hold the position when she was named by former President Barack Obama in 2016 as the 14th Librarian of Congress, according to her official government biography. Her 10-year term was set to expire in 2026.
DeLauro warned that Hayden’s removal undermines public trust and “the independence of one of our most revered institutions.”
“This move undermines the foundational principles of our democracy,” the Democratic lawmaker said. She demanded that the Trump administration provide a transparent explanation and called on Republicans to break with the president on the issue.
“Dr. Hayden’s service and the preservation of our nation’s history and culture should transcend partisan politics,” she concluded.
