President Donald Trump fired Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, via email at 6:56 p.m. ET on May 8, 2025. Critics are condemning his decision, which came after Hayden's appearance earlier this week before a Congressional committee, where she faced questions about a costly library modernization project.

Congress should have that power, not the president, some say, after Trump removed Library of Congress head Carla Hayden from her post.

The first Black woman to lead the Library of Congress was fired by email. Critics say the move is part of a broader war on truth, books, and history.