Five Months into the Trump Presidency: Charting the latest offensives against libraries and how advocates are pushing back; American Libraries, June 18, 2025

Hannah Weinberg  , American Libraries; Five Months into the Trump Presidency: Charting the latest offensives against libraries and how advocates are pushing back

"Since our last report, libraries have continued to experience significant upheaval from President Trump’s actions. In May, the Trump administration fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. We also saw legal cases challenging the administration’s defunding of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) continue to make their way through the courts in May and June. Meanwhile, library advocates contacted their legislators to fight for federal library funding in fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Here are several updates on the attacks against libraries across the US and the ways in which library supporters are pushing back."

Librarian of Congress firing is latest move in upheaval of U.S. cultural institutions; NPR, May 9, 2025

Andrew Limbong , NPR; Librarian of Congress firing is latest move in upheaval of U.S. cultural institutions

"By firing the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday night, President Trump continued his remaking of American cultural institutions."

Democrats press Trump on Copyright Office chief’s removal; The Hill, May 14, 2025

 JARED GANS, The Hill ; Democrats press Trump on Copyright Office chief’s removal

"A half dozen Senate Democrats are pressing President Trump over his firing of the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, arguing that the move is illegal. 

“It threatens the longstanding independence and integrity of the Copyright Office, which plays a vital role in our economy,” the members said in the letter. “You are acting beyond your power and contrary to the intent of Congress as you seek to erode the legal and institutional independence of offices explicitly designed to operate outside the reach of partisan influence.” ...

The head of the Copyright Office is responsible for shaping federal copyright policy, and the senators argued the role is particularly crucial as the country confronts issues concerning the intersection of copyright law and technologies like artificial intelligence."

Position Statement on the Termination of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress; Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), May 14, 2025

Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T); Statement on the Termination of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress

"The Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) expresses its profound shock, dismay, and concern at the abrupt termination of Dr. Carla Hayden from her position as the 14th Librarian of Congress.

Dr. Hayden’s tenure marked a historic chapter not only for the Library of Congress but also for the global library and information science (LIS) community. As the first woman and the first African American to hold this esteemed role, she was an international symbol of progress, equity, and the transformative power of open, democratic access to information. Her leadership consistently demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the modernization of information systems, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the championing of marginalized voices within the national and global record.

The removal of Dr. Hayden from office represents a significant and troubling moment for the LIS profession in the United States. It sends an unsettling message about the value placed on diverse leadership, the independence of cultural institutions, and the role of libraries as defenders of intellectual freedom and access to information in a democratic society. Her absence will leave a deep void in national policy conversations surrounding digital preservation, equitable access to information, and the future of public knowledge institutions.

Moreover, the repercussions of this decision are not confined to the United States. Dr. Hayden was a globally respected figure, fostering international collaborations, advancing digital initiatives that transcended national borders, and advocating for the preservation and accessibility of the world’s cultural memory. The termination of her leadership risks undermining critical global partnerships and weakening the collective efforts of the international information science community to build inclusive, forward-looking, and ethically grounded information infrastructures.

ASIS&T calls upon decision-makers to recognize the indispensable role of professional, independent, and visionary leadership in stewarding our most vital information institutions. We urge transparency in the processes surrounding this decision and reaffirm our solidarity with the broader LIS community in advocating for principles of equity, access, and the public good in all matters concerning information stewardship.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Carla Hayden for her exemplary service and leadership and commit ourselves to upholding the values she so powerfully embodied throughout her career."

Trump fires top US copyright official; Politico, May 10, 2025

KATHERINE TULLY-MCMANUS , Politico; Trump fires top US copyright official

[Kip Currier: If the allegation below is correct -- that Musk or anyone could gain and/or be granted access to the copyrighted works that federal copyright filers are required to provide for deposit to the U.S. Copyright Office (i.e. the U.S. federal government), as a condition of receiving a federal copyright, and that Musk or anyone could then use these federally-deposited copyrighted works to train proprietary AI models without permission or payment to the owners of those federally-deposited copyrighted works -- this is a matter that must be reported on more widely and investigated by the U.S. Congress.]

[Excerpt]

"Rep. Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee which oversees the Library of Congress and U.S. Copyright Office, is alleging it is “no coincidence [Trump] acted less than a day after [Perlmutter] refused to rubber-stamp Elon Musk’s efforts to mine troves of copyrighted works to train AI models.”

Perlmutter and her office issued a lengthy report about artificial intelligence that included some questions and concerns about the usage of copyrighted materials by AI technology, an industry which Musk is heavily involved in.

“This action once again tramples on Congress’s Article One authority and throws a trillion-dollar industry into chaos,” Morelle continued in a statement. “When will my Republican colleagues decide enough is enough?”"

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is fired by Trump; Politico, May 8, 2025

NICHOLAS WU, LISA KASHINSKY and KATHERINE TULLY-MCMANUS, Politico; Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is fired by Trump

[Kip Currier: I saw this story at 4:11 AM EDT via Library Link of the Day. I'd had an inkling this might be coming after seeing a 4/30/25 Daily Mail story ("Trump urged to fire 'deep state librarians' as he continues massive government purge") about the American Accountability Foundation targeting the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and the Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter; that latter office reports to the Librarian of Congress. Dr. Hayden's bio (excerpted in part) states that:

Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on September 14, 2016. Dr. Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library, was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama on February 24, 2016, and her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year on July 13.

Her vision for America’s national library, connecting all Americans to the Library of Congress, has redefined and modernized the Library’s mission: to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

During her tenure, Dr. Hayden has prioritized efforts to make the Library and its unparalleled collections more accessible to the public. Through her social media presence, events and activities, she has introduced new audiences to many of the Library’s treasures – from Frederick Douglass’ papers, to the contents of President Abraham Lincoln’s pockets on the night of his assassination, to James Madison’s crystal flute made famous by Lizzo.

https://www.loc.gov/about/about-the-librarian/

 

This is the first firing of a Librarian of Congress since that office was first filled in 1802 by an appointee (John James Buckley) of America's 3rd President Thomas Jefferson. All prior Librarians of Congress retired or passed away while serving in the position.

The Library of Congress was established in 1800 in Washington, D.C. It is the world's largest library and functions as the de facto national library of the United States. See Welcome message below, as of 5/9/25 6:55 AM EDT, on Library of Congress website:

Welcome Message from Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, films and video, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

The Library preserves and provides access to a rich, diverse and enduring source of knowledge to inform, inspire and engage you in your intellectual and creative endeavors. Whether you are new to the Library of Congress or an experienced researcher, we have a world-class staff ready to assist you online and in person.

I encourage you to visit the Library of Congress in person in Washington, D.C., explore the Library online from wherever you are and connect with us on social media.

Sincerely,

Carla Hayden

Librarian of Congress"

https://www.loc.gov/about/]

[Excerpt]

"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."