Top congressional leaders are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s attempt to replace two Library of Congress leaders, with the dispute over presidential powers over the institution leaving its future in question Monday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a brief interview that congressional leaders “want to make sure we’re following precedent and procedure” in naming a replacement for Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress whom Trump dismissed Thursday.
Trump on Monday appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress, but the official now holding that post, Robert Randolph Newlen, did not immediately recognize the appointment as valid, according to an email Newlen sent to library employees.
The clash included a brief standoff Monday at the Library of Congress in which Justice Department officials arrived claiming to be newly in charge of the agency, said a person familiar with the interaction. After library officials resisted, the DOJ officials departed without resolving the conflict.
Capitol Police officers were called to the scene but told by library staff that they were were not needed, according to another person, who was also granted anonymity to describe the sensitive matter.
Thune’s comments indicate that the dispute has reached the highest levels of congressional leadership, which is currently in the hands of Republican majorities. He said “we want to make sure congressional equities are respected and protected in this process.”
A spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson did not immediately return a request for comment. Any GOP objections to Blanche’s appointment would represent rare pushback to Trump’s presidential authority. So far in his second term, Republicans have by and large let Trump have his way in slashing government spending and levying foreign tariffs — both areas where Congress hold clear constitutional powers.
While the president nominates the Librarian of Congress for Senate confirmation, the library itself is part of the legislative branch. Thune did not answer when asked whether he thought Trump had the authority to name an acting chief librarian.
Newlen’s email to staff Monday said “Congress is engaged with the White House and we have not received direction from Congress about how to move forward.” Newlen was previously principal deputy librarian under Hayden.
Trump on Saturday also dismissed top U.S. copyright official Shira Perlmutter, who was appointed by Hayden. The firing came a day after her office released a draft report on use of copyrighted materials in artificial intelligence.
Congressional Democrats have castigated Trump’s moves at the library and have called for Congress to end the president’s power to nominate the top librarian. A House Democratic litigation task force is reviewing potential legal options, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations.
Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House panel overseeing the library, called for an inspector general investigation into the White House moves — including the possible transfer of congressional files.
“The executive has no authority to demand or receive confidential legislative branch data, and the Library has no legal basis to supply such information without authorization from Congress,” he wrote.
Josh Gerstein, Chris Marquette and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
