Carla Hayden, the first woman and first Black person to serve as Librarian of Congress, was abruptly terminated via an email from President Donald Trump on May 8, marking the end of her ten-year tenure. Despite her claims of no prior issues with the Trump administration, her dismissal has been viewed as part of a larger trend of targeting leaders in cultural institutions. Supporters gathered to defend the values of free access to information, while the White House cited concerns over her handling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as reasons for her firing.
