Trump Ally Appointed Librarian of Congress Amid Uproar \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump defense attorney, has been named acting Librarian of Congress following the controversial firing of Carla Hayden. The sudden change drew backlash from lawmakers and raised concerns about political interference and access to confidential congressional data. Democrats demand investigations into potential misuse of sensitive information.
Quick Looks
- Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defense attorney, is now acting Librarian of Congress.
- Carla Hayden was abruptly dismissed, triggering bipartisan concern over congressional oversight.
- Two new Trump appointees were blocked from entering the Copyright Office.
- Hayden’s appointee, Shira Perlmutter, was also fired following release of a controversial AI report.
- Senior Democrats are calling for an inspector general probe into the personnel shake-up.
- Concerns mount over potential data misuse, including CRS requests and library archives.
- The firings align with Trump’s ongoing post-return purge of federal officials.
Deep Look
In a move stirring controversy across Capitol Hill and the cultural world, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — best known as Donald Trump’s defense attorney in his 2024 criminal trial — has been named the acting Librarian of Congress, replacing Dr. Carla Hayden. The sudden transition, announced Monday by the Justice Department, follows Hayden’s firing last week amid conservative claims that she was pushing a “woke” agenda.
Hayden, a respected figure in literary and scholarly communities and the first Black person and first woman to serve as Librarian of Congress, had led the institution since 2016. Her ouster and the replacement of other key personnel have raised significant alarm about the politicization of one of the United States’ oldest and most revered cultural institutions.
Blanche’s appointment is part of a wider pattern of Trump reasserting direct control over federal agencies since returning to the White House in January. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, played a pivotal role in Trump’s legal defense, including during the New York trial that ended in a felony conviction on 34 counts. His ascension to the top of the Library of Congress — a legislative branch institution — represents an unprecedented merger of executive legal power with congressional information infrastructure.
Appointees Blocked from Copyright Office
Compounding the situation, two additional Trump-aligned appointees attempted to enter the Copyright Office on Monday but were unable to gain access due to lacking identification credentials. Brian Nieves, a senior counsel in Blanche’s office, was named acting assistant librarian. Paul Perkins, an experienced DOJ attorney, was appointed acting register of copyrights, replacing Shira Perlmutter, a Hayden appointee removed over the weekend.
According to a source familiar with the incident, Nieves and Perkins stood in the hallway outside the Copyright Office, which is housed within the Library of Congress, but had no security badges. U.S. Capitol Police were contacted, but the pair left without incident after a brief discussion. Capitol Police later confirmed that no one was escorted out and directed further inquiries to library officials.
Congress Pushes Back
The reshuffling triggered immediate concern among lawmakers, especially given that the Librarian of Congress is considered an employee of the legislative branch. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that Congress is reviewing whether Trump has the authority to fire and appoint positions within the library without congressional input.
“We want to make sure congressional equities are respected and protected in this process,” Thune said Monday.
An internal memo obtained by the Associated Press from Robert Randolph Newlen, who had served temporarily as acting librarian, noted that Congress is “engaged” with the White House on the matter. So far, there has been no formal direction from Congress on how to proceed with Blanche’s installation.
Worries Over Data and Confidentiality
Beyond personnel moves, Democrats and library advocates are increasingly concerned about the implications of Trump loyalists controlling access to the Library of Congress’s data systems. The library houses not only a vast national archive of historical documents but also the Congressional Research Service (CRS) — a nonpartisan entity that supports lawmakers with confidential analyses.
Under the new leadership, there are fears that the Trump administration could gain access to CRS reports requested by individual members of Congress — requests that are supposed to remain confidential. A congressional aide, speaking anonymously, warned this could compromise the legislative branch’s independence.
Even more troubling to lawmakers is the possibility that internal Library of Congress data could be shared with external departments, including Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has faced scrutiny over prior data access controversies.
In a letter signed by leading House Democrats Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), lawmakers demanded an inspector general investigation, warning that unauthorized data sharing “could compromise legislative branch independence and the ability of Members of Congress to carry out their constitutional duties.”
AI Report Triggered Tensions
Much of the controversy also ties back to a recent report by former Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter. Just before her dismissal, Perlmutter released a pre-publication study questioning the legality of artificial intelligence systems that train on copyrighted materials. The report, part of a multi-year review, argued that large-scale AI training practices by tech firms may exceed “fair use” limits — a conclusion welcomed by artists but fiercely opposed by the tech industry.
Though the report carries no legal authority, it immediately gained traction in legal circles and raised tensions between the Copyright Office and the administration. It was viewed as a significant step toward possible congressional regulation of AI content generation — and may have contributed to Perlmutter’s removal.
Trump-aligned voices were quick to celebrate the change. Mike Davis, a lawyer with ties to Trump, issued a public warning that “tech bros are going to attempt to steal creators’ copyrights for AI profits,” calling Perlmutter’s findings a threat to corporate interests.
Cultural Community Reacts
The firings have sent shockwaves through the arts and literary communities. Ada Limón, U.S. poet laureate from 2022–2025, issued a public statement mourning Hayden’s dismissal, describing her as “the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.”
The cast and creators of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Dead Outlaw canceled a planned visit to the library in protest and praised Hayden for her dedication to preserving “America’s cultural memory.”
As Trump moves swiftly to remake longstanding federal institutions, the future of the Library of Congress — and its role as a politically neutral steward of knowledge and history — hangs in the balance.
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