Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Amid DEI Backlash

President Donald Trump abruptly fired Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American Librarian of Congress, via a terse email, ending her 10-year term a year early. Hayden, appointed by President Obama and confirmed with bipartisan support, had recently been targeted by a conservative advocacy group for allegedly promoting 'radical' content and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The firing drew widespread condemnation from Democrats, civil rights advocates, and education leaders, who accused Trump of seeking to 'whitewash' history and replace dedicated officials with loyalists. Congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, called the move disgraceful and politically motivated. Hayden's dismissal is seen as part of a broader pattern by Trump of removing officials perceived as opposed to his agenda and curtailing diversity initiatives across federal agencies. The White House and Library of Congress have not provided detailed reasons for her removal.