The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) condemns yesterday’s capricious and irrational firing of Dr. Carla D. Hayden, Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden was appointed as the 14th Librarian of Congress in 2016, confirmed with a bipartisan vote, and served the American people as a well-respected and diligent steward of the world’s largest library. She was fired in a two-sentence email from White House Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse.
Dr. Hayden was also the first Black Librarian of Congress, the first woman to serve in the role, and the first new Librarian of Congress since 1987. The Library of Congress is the oldest government-run cultural institution in the United States.
In response, Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of LDF, issued the following statement:
“The summary dismissal of Dr. Hayden as Librarian of Congress is yet another example of this administration’s war on truth and its ongoing effort to suppress and dismantle treasured institutions charged with collecting, disseminating, and celebrating the history, voices, and experiences of all Americans, including Black Americans.
“The decision by the Trump administration to fire Dr. Carla Hayden is shameful and irresponsible. Her unjust firing demonstrates the volatile and baseless nature of the leadership in the White House as they continue to erode efforts to preserve our nation’s true history of all its people.
“We cannot let this endemic movement go unchecked. We must continue to safeguard our history against the disinformation that seeks to erase the struggles, triumphs, and contributions of the most marginalized Americans. And we must protect and respect the work of our public servants who preserve our history at every level. LDF has long advocated for truth in our schools and in our libraries and the urgent need to counter revisionist falsehoods. We continue this important fight to honor our history and secure free expression of its truths, without fear of retaliation from the president or any other public official.”
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957 — although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
