Moderators, I put this here because although it is academic, it also falls in the political realm. If you want to move it, I will understand. President Trump unexpectedly fired Library of Congress head Carla Hayden on Thursday in a move that sent Democrats into a frenzy. Hayden — the first woman and black librarian of Congress — received an email from the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office telling her she was terminated late Thursday. “Carla,” the email began. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in abrupt move, sending Democrats into a frenzy
She allowed children books in the library that book burning Republicans didn't like. Perhaps even worse (but unspoken) she was Black and a woman. For those reasons she just had to go! Make America Misogynists Again! Make America Racist Again! Make America Great Again!
Teach them to read and if we're not careful then they might even want to vote!! Make America Great Again! That's absolutely correct! Republican congressmen are unfortunately allowing Trump to take over legislative functions like tariffs and firing the librarian of congress.
The Librarian of Congress is appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by a vote of the Senate. https://www.loc.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/
I too. Andrew Jackson fired the librarian in charge of the Library of Congress. It’s not really part of the executive branch though. The House of Representatives website, for example, implies it is part of Congress. Other websites seem to indicate it is not really in either branch.
The Library of Congress is responsible for keeping at least one physical copy (and or one e-copy) of every book published in the United States, and that is registered with them. The Librarian of Congress is responsible for a lot of things including directing those who classify those books by subject matter, directing those who store and preserve those books ( including maintaining software that can read the ebooks, and converting books on CDs into a format that wears well over time, etc. They also have this responsibility for plays, film scripts, movies, musical recordings, visual artwork, etc. They also share responsibilities with the National Archives for maintaining non-copyright records generated by Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive branch. Pumpkin doesn't want any records of his illegal actions, official or otherwise, kept to be scrutinized, so the nothing burger excuse of evil books for children fits their script.
My understanding of how it came down was that there was a right wing group, American Accountability Foundation, that attacked her because she was simply doing her job and keeping a copy of books that the book burning MAGA Republicans didn't like, as you mentioned. I think that right wing group is what brought the librarian to Trump's attention. My assumption was that Trump then fired her when he found out that she was a she and not only that but she was a black she. Google search quote: The American Accountability Foundation criticized Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, before her firing. They accused her of promoting "radical" children's books and supporting "woke" policies. This group, along with other conservative voices, had been criticizing Hayden's policies and perceived alignment with the Trump administration. Hayden's firing by President Trump was indeed controversial, and her removal is widely reported. You have an interesting theory though. Do you know of any evidence supporting either theory? Trump ranting about the librarian being a DEI hire is minor evidence that he did it because she was a black female.
