President Trump’s recent firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden marks another significant change to American cultural institutions. Hayden, the first woman and African American to hold the position, was also the first term-limited individual in the role, with her tenure set to end next year. The decision was justified by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt citing concerns about Hayden’s initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the inclusion of inappropriate books in the library for children.

Hayden’s primary focus since assuming the role in 2016 was modernizing the Library of Congress and digitizing its extensive collection, a challenging task given past IT management weaknesses highlighted by a 2015 report. Despite these challenges, Hayden’s efforts to enhance the library’s digital infrastructure have been widely praised, with Republican Congressman Bryan Steil commending her and her team for their dedication and service.

While the Library of Congress typically avoids cultural controversies, Hayden’s firing has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, such as Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. This move follows a pattern of Trump’s impact on arts institutions, including previous attempts to cut staff at the National Endowment for the Arts and other cultural organizations.

The broader implications of these changes have left arts groups nationwide seeking alternative funding sources, with artists even planning boycotts in response to Trump’s involvement in cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center. Trump’s actions signal a broader trend of reshaping cultural institutions since taking office, with efforts to alter the landscape of arts and humanities organizations across the country.