Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden was fired by President Donald Trump on May 8 for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Hayden was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2016 and was the first woman and African American Librarian of Congress.

The Librarian of Congress oversees the contents of the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. According to the library’s website, a librarian “sets policy and directs and supports programs and activities to accomplish the Library’s mission.”

As librarian, Hayden’s goal was to make the contents of the Library of Congress accessible for all by digitizing paper materials and stressing libraries as a place for opportunity. 

She aimed “to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.”

The week before, Hayden and her team were being praised by Congressman Bryan Steil as they “dedicate a lot of time and service to the country and the Library of Congress, and their work should be commended.” Hayden started her librarian career in 1979 at the Chicago Public Library.

“There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “And we don’t believe that she was serving the interests of the American taxpayer well, so she has been removed from her position.”

The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative nonprofit organization, called for President Donald Trump to fire her just days before.

“Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids. It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!” the organization posted on X.

Hayden received notice of her firing via a two-sentence email from the Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse.

“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,” the email said.

Trump appointed Todd Blanche, his former personal defense lawyer in his New York felony trial last year, as the acting librarian, although his librarian experience is unknown.

As a result of Hayden’s termination, Democratic lawmakers have called for a change in how people are appointed to such positions — by giving that power to Congress.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries views her termination as part of an “ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock.”

“We must assert our congressional prerogative by making the position of Librarian of Congress appointed by a congressional commission — not by presidents that treat federal appointments like reality TV prizes,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

The library staff refused access to the individuals Trump appointed as department officials, locking them out of the library. The staff insisted that unless Congress is appointing the officials, they would continue their revolt.

While the two officials brought a letter directly from the White House stating that as Blanche was the acting librarian, it was his choice who would be appointed department heads, they were still asked to leave by U.S. Capitol Police and Meg Williams, the Copyright Office’s General Counsel.

The Library of Congress isn’t the first arts organization targeted by Trump in his second term. He appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center in February, leading to many event cancellations and boycotts, along with his plan to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, starting with cutting its grants.