President Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Thursday, according to a library spokesperson and an email obtained by POLITICO.
“Carla, 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,” wrote Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse in an email to Hayden sent at 6:56 p.m.
Hayden’s firing generated an immediate backlash from congressional Democrats.
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House committee that oversees the library, slammed Trump for “firing a patriotic public servant.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries piled on, calling the decision “unjust” and a “disgrace.” Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) praised Hayden in a statement and said Trump was “taking his assault on America’s libraries to a new level.”