President Trump fired the Librarian of Congress and installed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the acting librarian. Members of Congress are challenging the move, believing the position isn’t under the executive branch’s jurisdiction.
So is it?
According to the Library, it is an agency of the legislative branch.
An appellate court ruled in 2024 that the librarian is a “Head of Department” within the executive branch, citing precedent. That empowers the president to nominate a leader whom the Senate must confirm.
The now-fired librarian, Dr. Carla Hayden, was nominated by former President Barack Obama in 2016 and was confirmed by the Senate in July of that year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., describes the library as having a “hybrid role” between the Article I and Article II branches of government.
When asked by the Wall Street Journal whether there had been any consultation on Dr. Hayden’s firing, Thune replied, “Not exactly.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and other Democrats the article spoke with said they didn’t believe Library of Congress employees were subject to the executive branch’s jurisdiction.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said there was no cause to fire Dr. Hayden and that litigation should be evaluated strongly. He also said the executive branch should be removed from the process once a librarian has been designated.
How did we get here?
Trump fired Hayden on May 8. She was informed via email by Trent Morse, the Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was made acting director. Justice Department officials Paul Perkins and Brian Nieves also tried to gain access to the U.S. Copyright Office with an email that stated they were the named acting deputy librarian and acting register of copyrights and director of U.S. Copyright Office. Reports indicate they agreed to leave after employees called the Capitol Police.
What does the Library of Congress do?
The Library of Congress is a lot more than just a place to store books and archives. It is home to the Congressional Research Service, which provides policy and legal analysis to lawmakers, and hosts the U.S. Copyright Office.
