US President Donald Trump suddenly released the director of Congress Library Carla Hayden on Thursday. This was reported by AP, according to which it is part of the purges in the structures of the federal government from those employees who are perceived as opponents of the President and his agenda.
Hayden was the first African -American in this post. Part of the Conservatives accused her of promoting “radical” books and anti -Turump’s views, AP said.
Congressman for Connecticut Rosa Delaur, who works in the House of Representatives in the Budgetary Committee, said she demanded the Trump administration explaining the reasons for the release of Hayden.
Delaur’s argued that Hayden fought for the availability, modernization and democratization of access to knowledge. “Her release is not only an insult to her service, but also a direct attack on the independence of one of our most recognized institutions,” added the Congressman.
Breakthrough in the upgrade of the library
When Hayden was confirmed in the Senate in 2016 by the vast majority of the votes of Democrats and Republicans, this was perceived as a breakthrough in the area of representation and modernization of the library.
As a former director of the free Enocha Pratta library in Baltimore and a passionate proponent of the digital approach, literacy and inclusion, Hayden has contributed to digitization of large parts of the library archives, diversification of her collections and extending her impact to disadvantaged communities. She also worked on accessing this library – one of the largest in the world – all Americans, not just academics and legislators.
However, its critics perceived such reforms as part of the wider agenda “Woke ideology”. In the weeks before its release, the far right -wing American Foundation launched an aggressive campaign in which Hayden accused Hayden of promoting “radical” books, supporting LGBTQ content for children and providing platforms to the authors of critical to Trump. Her call “to get Hayden’s away” came only a few hours before her release was published.
Montery and respected
Despite the fact that Hayden was confirmed by the Senate and its term of office was to end in four years, her release was announced by e-mail, in which the only explanation states that her contract is “immediately terminated”.
This method of dismissal was surprised by many officials and observers, especially because Hayden was perceived as an interior and respected across the party lines, AP notes.
“This is not how our institutions should not work,” said the former Congress Library official. “The release of someone’s position without a reason or proper process is a warning for any cultural institution.”
