Trump Administration's Attempted Hostile Takeover of Library of Congress Sparks Outrage

The Library of Congress is currently facing a potential hostile takeover following the abrupt dismissals of Librarian Carla Hayden and U.S. Copyright Office head Shiera Perlmutter. The firings, orchestrated by the Trump administration, have sparked outrage among library staff and raised concerns about the politicization of a crucial nonpartisan institution. 'Congress is engaged with the White House and we have not received direction from Congress about how to move forward,' wrote Interim Director Robert Newlen in an internal email obtained by Politico. This highlights the precarious position of the Library, which serves as a vital research resource for Congress and safeguards intellectual property rights. Perlmutter's dismissal came days after she issued a report clarifying that tech companies' efforts to train AI models on data scraped from public websites could violate American copyright law. The situation underscores the urgent need for public awareness and action to protect the Library's independence and its role in preserving democratic values.