Fact Check: Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden over her DEI initiatives.

Fact Check: "Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden over her DEI initiatives."

What We Know

On May 8, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, via email from the White House's Presidential Personnel Office. The email stated that her position was terminated effective immediately, thanking her for her service. The White House later clarified that Hayden was dismissed due to her "pursuit of DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, which were deemed incompatible with the needs of the American people (source-1, source-6). Hayden, who was the first woman and first African American to serve in this role, had been nominated by former President Barack Obama in 2016 and confirmed with bipartisan support (source-5).

Prior to her firing, Hayden faced criticism from conservative groups, particularly the American Accountability Foundation, which accused her of promoting "radical" children's books that included LGBTQ+ themes. This criticism was highlighted shortly before her dismissal (source-6, source-7).

Analysis

The claim that Trump fired Carla Hayden over her DEI initiatives is supported by multiple credible sources. The White House's justification for her firing explicitly mentioned her focus on DEI as a reason for her dismissal (source-2, source-4). The timing of her firing, shortly after public criticism from conservative groups, suggests a politically motivated decision aimed at reshaping federal cultural institutions in line with the Trump administration's agenda (source-3).

The reliability of the sources reporting on this event is high, as they include established news organizations such as NPR, The New York Times, and the Associated Press, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards. Additionally, the context of the firing aligns with a broader pattern of the Trump administration's actions against officials perceived to oppose its policies (source-6, source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden over her DEI initiatives is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources indicates that her dismissal was directly linked to her advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion, which was publicly criticized by conservative factions and ultimately deemed incompatible with the administration's objectives.

Fact Check: Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden over her DEI initiatives.