The White House informed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden of her removal from her position. The reason for Hayden's removal was not immediately clear. Congressional Democrats criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of targeting books. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Hayden’s termination a disgrace and an effort to ban books and whitewash American history. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the removal was another attempt to dismantle democracy and punish public servants who don’t comply with Trump's wishes.

Hayden was sworn in as the librarian of Congress in September 2016, becoming the first woman and Black person to hold the position. She had about a year and a half remaining in her 10-year term. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and the US Congress’ primary research arm, housing more than 178 million items, including books, photographs, musical instruments, and ancient artifacts.

Hayden's plans for the library included improving access to the library's contents for those unable to visit the physical location. In 2022, she allowed Lizzo to play President James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute at a concert. Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich applauded Hayden for bringing the Library of Congress to the people through initiatives that reached into rural communities and made the Library accessible in person and online. Heinrich contrasted Trump's alleged book-banning tendencies with Hayden's dedication to making knowledge available to everyone.