Dr. Carla Hayden isn’t mincing words about how her time as Librarian of Congress ended—and she’s doing it in front of a national audience.
In a sit-down with CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent Robert Costa, Hayden confirms she was never given a reason for her recent dismissal by the Trump administration—and says the only official notice she received was an email.
The high-profile exit is now back in the spotlight as Hayden shares her version of events for the first time. The interview airs Sunday, June 8, on the CBS Television Network and streams the same day on Paramount+.
Appointed in 2016, Hayden made history as the first woman and the first African American to lead the Library of Congress. Her removal caught many in D.C. off guard—not just for the suddenness, but for the radio silence that followed. According to Hayden, no explanation came before or after her termination.
The exclusive also touches on the broader role of libraries in a politically polarized climate, a topic Hayden has long championed during her tenure.
You can see the full interview on CBS News Sunday Morning on June 8 at 9:00 AM.
