Topline
President Donald Trump intends to name Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—his former personal attorney—to be the acting Librarian of Congress, the White House confirmed to Forbes, after the Trump administration ousted longtime librarian Carla Hayden last week for pushing diversity initiatives.
President Donald Trump and attorney Todd Blanche, at Manhattan state court in New York on April 22, … More
Key Facts
Blanche will serve as the acting Librarian of Congress while the president seeks a permanent replacement, the White House confirmed to Forbes after the news was first reported by CBS, though it’s unclear if he has already been formally appointed or when he will assume the role.
Blanche already holds the number two position at the Justice Department, after previously representing Trump in court as the president’s defense attorney during his criminal trial.
Trump fired Hayden, who had served as the librarian since 2016, last week, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claiming Trump made the decision to oust her because she “did not fit the needs of the American people” and “there were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.”
The Librarian of Congress manages the Library of Congress and its vast acquisition efforts, and while the Library of Congress’ collections include millions of notable books and other media, it is focused on research and preservation, and is not a traditional library that lends books out to either children or adults.
The Library of Congress also operates the U.S. Copyright Office, as well as the Congressional Research Service.
The Justice Department and Library of Congress have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Who Is Todd Blanche?
Before assuming his role at the Justice Department, Blanche was a longtime private attorney who left top law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft to represent Trump in his multiple legal battles. Blanche was Trump’s lead defense attorney in the president’s criminal trial last year, in which Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The attorney also represented Trump in the two federal criminal cases against him, both of which have been thrown out since Trump’s election. Prior to entering private practice, Blanche worked as a violent crimes prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He does not appear to have any significant experience in library science.
Key Background
Trump’s decision to fire Hayden is the latest in a long string of controversial firings by the president and his administration, as the White House has instituted mass firings across the federal government and ousted numerous officials whom the administration claims do not support its priorities. President Barack Obama appointed Hayden to serve a 10-year term, which was set to expire next year, and she was the first Black Librarian of Congress, coming to the position after a long career in library science including serving as the president of the American Library Association. Her firing is part of broader attacks by the Trump administration against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), as the White House has systematically dismantled DEI programs throughout the federal government and targeted companies in the private sector who pursue DEI efforts. Blanche is one of several attorneys who have gone from representing the president in court to serving in his administration, along with Solicitor General Dean John Sauer, Pincipal Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and White House Counsel David Warrington.
