Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress, has broken her silence after being abruptly dismissed by former President Donald Trump in May.
She revealed in a new interview that she received no notice, warning, or explanation beyond a brief 31-word email.
“No one has talked to me directly at all from the White House,” Hayden told CBS News correspondent Robert Costa in her first public remarks since her firing. “That’s the only communication.” The interview will air Sunday on CBS News Sunday Morning.
Hayden’s ousting, which stunned many in the literary and political communities, marked the latest instance of political retribution under the Trump administration.
She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2016 to lead the Library of Congress—an institution that houses the nation’s vast collection of historical documents, presidential papers, and literary artifacts—and served with distinction for nearly a decade.
But according to Hayden, her termination came without dignity or dialogue. She received an email on May 8 that read simply:
“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.”
Asked by Costa if her entire tenure ended with that one email, Hayden responded:
“That was it. I was never notified beforehand and after.”
Hayden’s removal followed mounting pressure from the conservative American Accountability Foundation (AAF), which has been accused of targeting public servants viewed as obstacles to Trump’s rightwing agenda.
The group alleged that Hayden and other library leaders promoted children’s literature with so-called “radical content” and supported authors critical of Trump. Hours before her dismissal, AAF posted online that it was “time to get her OUT,” labeling her “woke” and “anti-Trump.”
The reaction from Democrats was swift and impassioned.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Hayden “a trailblazer, a scholar and a public servant of the highest order.”
Representative Joseph Morelle (D-NY), ranking member of the House Administration Committee that oversees the Library of Congress, called her “an American hero,” adding:
“Hayden has spent her entire career serving people – from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nation’s most precious treasures.”
Hayden’s tenure was marked by bold and inclusive outreach. In 2022, she made headlines by inviting Grammy-winning artist Lizzo to play an antique crystal flute once owned by President James Madison, bringing history to life in a way that resonated with younger generations and communities often excluded from traditional institutions.
Her abrupt termination leaves uncertainty about the future direction of the Library of Congress under the Trump administration. Located across from the U.S. Capitol, the Library remains one of the nation’s most vital institutions for knowledge and cultural preservation.
For now, Hayden’s words highlight what many see as a deeply politicized and callous act: “No explanation. No phone call. Just one email.”
