The Librarian of Congress has been fired in the upheaval of U.S. cultural institutions

The Library of Congress: Clarifying the FONC firings of Carla Hayden in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2013 after he left FEMA

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda.

From the Pentagon to the Justice Department, Trump has been rid of officials who aren’t in line with his agenda. At times, the firings come after conservative voices single out officials for criticism.

Earlier Thursday, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was pushed out one day after he had testified that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle the organization. Trump has suggested that individual states, not FEMA, should take the lead on responding to hurricanes, tornadoes and other crises.

At the Pentagon, more than a half-dozen top general officers have been fired since January, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. The only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers, have also been fired.

“Enough is enough,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who said that a “trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order” are qualities that should not be underestimated.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Hayden was “callously fired” by Trump and demanded an explanation from the administration as to why she was dismissed.

The Democratic leaders said that the leader of Baltimore’s library system, Hayden, helped to make the library more accessible with initiatives into rural communities and online.

The Library of Congress has an amazing collection of books and history which can be accessed by both the public and lawmakers. It houses the papers of more than three dozen Supreme Court justices.

There is a collection of rare books, prints, and photographs as well as a collection of valuable artifacts, like the flute that President James Madison had when he was alive.

Donald Trump’s Library of Congress: Why he’s firing Dr. Hayden, and why he should stay there, and how to keep doing that

Donald Trump’s recent firing of Dr. Hayden is a sad example of his ongoing attempt to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock,” Jeffries said.

“The Library of Congress is the People’s Library. There will be accountability for this unprecedented assault on the American way of life sooner rather than later,” he said.

New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees funding for the library, said the firing, which he said came at 6:56 p.m., was “taking his assault on America’s libraries to a new level.”

In a separate email obtained by the AP, Robert Newlen said he would act as acting librarian of Congress until further instructions.

“And when you have a free public library in particular,” she said, it’s an “opportunity center for people all walks of life, and you are giving them the opportunity to make choices on which information, entertainment and inspiration means the most to them.”

She was the first African American woman to hold the post. She was also the first person in the job to be term-limited. Her time was going to end next year.

The White House press secretary said on Friday that there were a lot of troubling things that she did at the Library of Congress.

While libraries in general have become fought-over turf in the broader culture wars, the Library of Congress has mostly stayed out of those controversies. The other topic of discussion this week was the renovations of the Library’s main reading room, and it was one of the reasons why the Hearing was done this week.

Trump’s changes to arts institutions: NEA staff departures and boycotts of productions of Les Misrables at the Kennedy Center

Also this week, a number of senior staff at the National Endowment for the Arts left their posts. In a letter published by the literary magazine N+1, four members of the NEA’s literary arts staff announced their departures. “While we don’t know specifically how the work of the agency will change, we know the remaining staff will do their best to support you,” the letter read.

This is just a portion of Trump’s changes to arts institutions since he took office in January. He’s also attempted to cut staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

And on Wednesday, CNN reported that a number of performers in the upcoming production of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center are planning on boycotting when President Trump sees the show on June 11.

Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center was an early show of force. He fired Deborah Rutter, who served as president of the performing arts center for a decade, and installed Richard Grenell as its interim president. Trump also placed himself as chair of the board. Artists who were scheduled to perform canceled their appearances.