President Trump has fired Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, citing her promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as the reason, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Dr. Hayden, appointed by President Obama in 2016, was the first woman and first African American to hold the role. Her dismissal has sparked backlash from academics and congressional Democrats, who view it as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to suppress discussions of race, gender, and "woke" ideologies within federal institutions.

Leavitt accused Hayden of pursuing DEI initiatives and permitting “inappropriate books” for children, despite the Library of Congress not lending books to the public. No specific evidence of misconduct was provided. Dr. Hayden’s termination follows other high-profile removals of Black officials under Trump’s second term, including Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., reflecting a pattern of targeting individuals linked to perceived diversity efforts.

Her firing came just hours after the conservative American Accountability Foundation publicly called for her removal, labeling her “woke” and “anti-Trump.” Dr. Hayden received a two-sentence dismissal email from a White House official, addressing her informally as “Carla.” In response, her longtime deputy, Robert R. Newlen, praised Hayden in a message to staff as a respected, nonpartisan public servant. Her sudden ousting underscores ongoing political battles over DEI and cultural leadership in government institutions.