JAV President Donald Trump has fired the nation's chief librarian, ending the tenure of the only woman and first African-American to hold the position, a senator said.
New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich shared an email Thursday night that he said Carla Hayden received announcing her dismissal as Librarian of Congress "effective immediately."
“During her tenure, Dr. Hayden brought the Library of Congress closer to the people, implementing initiatives that reached rural communities and making the library accessible to all Americans in person and online,” said Mr. Heinrich.
“While President Trump wants to ban books and tell Americans what to read, or not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has dedicated his career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge accessible to all,” the senator continued.
Hayden was appointed to lead the world's largest library in 2016, but conservatives, including members of the lobbying group American Accountability Foundation, criticized her, accusing her of seeking to "indoctrinate American children with radical sexual ideologies."
“Carla Hayden is a woke culture figure who is anti-Trump and promotes transgenderism in children,” the group posted on social media hours before the librarian was fired. “It’s time to FIRE her and hire someone new for the job!”
Hayden's 10-year term was due to end next year.
The Library of Congress conducts research and provides information for the legislative process, and also maintains a vast collection of books, films, audio recordings, and other materials.
The Librarian of Congress is responsible for policymaking and staff management, as well as overseeing the U.S. Copyright Office and selecting the Poetry Laureate.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called her firing "a disgrace and the latest in his efforts to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back time."
"The Library of Congress is the people's library. This unprecedented attack on the American way of life will sooner or later be held accountable," he said in a statement.
The library did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Živile Aleškaitienė (AFP)
