Industry & Advocacy News
May 9, 2025
Update, May 12, 2025: On Monday, Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress. Blanche represented Trump in his 2024 hush money criminal trial and, unlike prior Librarians, has no academic, library, or literary experience. Officials at the Library reportedly refused to recognize Blanche and his deputy who were voluntarily escorted out of the building by the Library’s General Counsel this morning. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have reported concerns, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune stating in a brief interview that congressional leaders “want to make sure we’re following precedent and procedure” in naming a replacement for Hayden. Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration committee, which oversees the Library, called for the Library’s inspector general to investigate the White House’s interactions with the Library, including the possible transfer of congressional files. He wrote, “The executive has no authority to demand or receive confidential legislative branch data, and the Library has no legal basis to supply such information without authorization from Congress.”
May 9, 2025: The Authors Guild decries the abrupt dismissal of Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress by President Donald Trump, reportedly due to accusations from conservative groups that criticized Dr. Hayden for promoting diverse literary works which they labeled as “radical” and literary material authored by Trump opponents. Firing a Librarian before her Congressionally legislated term expires for serving the Library’s mission to preserve and make accessible all American literature is a shocking abuse of power. It represents a profound misunderstanding of the role of Congress’ library and is an affront to intellectual freedom, democratic values, and the integrity of our national institutions.
Dr. Hayden’s tenure was marked by visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and making the Library and literary works accessible to all Americans, including those in rural America. As the first woman and first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, she modernized the institution, expanded digital access, and championed initiatives that brought the Library’s vast resources to underserved communities. Librarians of Congress are non-partisan government officers appointed for 10-year terms, and Dr. Hayden still had almost a year and a half left in her term.
The Library of Congress is more than a repository of books; it is a guardian of our nation’s history and a symbol of our collective commitment to knowledge and truth. Undermining its leadership for political gain threatens the foundation of our democracy.
Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild stated, “The Library of Congress is by its very mission nonpartisan. Throughout its history it has served all members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, all of the American people, and the pursuit of knowledge by and on behalf of all Americans. As a former Library of Congress employee, along with both the presidents of the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation, Ralph Eubanks and Marie Arana, we are profoundly saddened by Trump’s politically motivated removal of Dr. Hayden. We cherish the Library as a fount of knowledge and learning and for its remarkable, awe-inspiring collections and commitment to fostering and preserving American creativity in all its forms. For a president to break this sacred trust in the institution that personifies American leaning and creativity—indeed our greatness—is a bridge too far. We call on Congress to protect its Library from politics.”
