Politics
Humiliating Moment for Trump as Key Senators Push Back on Library of Congress Takeover Attempt
By Jake Beardslee · May 15, 2025
Senate Unites to Block Trump’s Library Takeover
In a tense institutional standoff, congressional leaders including top Republicans have pushed back against President Donald Trump’s attempt to install his own leadership at the Library of Congress. The White House / Wikimedia
Trump Fires Top Library Officials
Last week, Trump abruptly dismissed Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, followed by Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, over the weekend. Library of Congress Life / Wikimedia
Deputy AG Todd Blanche Tapped as Acting Librarian
He then moved to install Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a longtime ally and his former personal lawyer as acting librarian. PD-US / Wikimedia
Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Appointments Without Consultation
However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns about recognizing the appointments without proper congressional consultation. Ian Hutchinson / Unsplash
Jeffries Pushes Back on Trump Appointments
“This is the Library of Congress, not the library of the executive branch,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
Thune Warns Trump Team to Respect Congressional Role
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Democrats in expressing alarm at the attempted shake-up, stressing that Trump’s officials met with the Senate Rules Committee but were told firmly that “there needs to be a consultation around this” and that congressional “equities” must be honored. U.S. Senate Photographic Studio / Wikimedia
Johnson Says Trump Has Authority to Remove Librarian, Urges Proper Procedure
According to Politico, in a brief interview, House Speaker Mike Johnson affirmed that President Donald Trump “clearly has the authority to remove a Librarian of Congress,” but conceded that concerns remain about the process of appointing a replacement. “We want to make sure all the — you know, everything’s followed correctly,” he added. NASA Headquarters / NASA / Joel Kowsky / Wikimedia
Padilla: Hayden’s Deputy Remains in Charge Amid Dispute
Despite Trump’s move, Robert Newlen, Hayden’s deputy, remains in charge for now. According to Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Trump’s team appears to be acknowledging Newlen’s current authority: “For the time being, the acting librarian is the acting librarian.” United States Senate Photographic Studio / Wikimedia
Library Staff Deny Access to Trump’s Appointees
Library of Congress staff further pushed back Monday, refusing entry to Trump appointees attempting to take over the Copyright Office. Carol M. Highsmith / Wikimedia
AP Highlights Broader Implications of Trump’s Appointments
According to the Associated Press, the potential consequences of Trump “installing a close ally as librarian of Congress could be far-reaching,” extending beyond the immediate separation-of-powers issues. One example cited by AP is that the librarian could access and potentially share confidential “requests made by lawmakers to the Congressional Research Service” for legislative analysis. The White House / Wikimedia
Trump Administration Removes Top Copyright Official
The Trump administration dismissed the nation’s top copyright official, Shira Perlmutter, just days after abruptly removing the head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the U.S. Copyright Office. David Rice / Wikimedia
White House Notified Perlmutter of Immediate Termination via Email, Office Says
According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Copyright Office, Perlmutter was informed by email from the White House on Saturday, May 10, that “your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately.”https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5295005-trump-fires-head-of-copyright-office-after-firing-librarian-of-congress/ U.S. Library of Congress / Wikimedia
