Pressley Has Led Efforts Pushing Back Against Book Bans, Attacks on Museums, and Efforts to Whitewash American History

Earlier Today, Pressley Convened a Roundtable and Presser to Condemn Trump’s Attacks on Museums, Affirm Importance of Preserving Shared History

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement condemning Donald Trump’s abrupt and unjustified firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Congresswoman Pressley has led efforts pushing back against book bans, attacks on museums, and efforts to whitewash American history—and earlier today she hosted a convening in Boston to uplift the vital role of museums in preserving our shared history.

“Donald Trump’s reckless decision to fire Dr. Carla Hayden—an accomplished, principled, and history-making Librarian of Congress—without justification is a disgrace. Dr. Hayden’s leadership has elevated the Library of Congress as a beacon of knowledge and history for everyone in America, and her dismissal will only undermine the Library of Congress as a critical resource and public good.

“To be clear, this is about more than one distinguished public servant—it is part of Trump and Republicans’ coordinated, anti-Black assault on truth, education, and the American story itself. From banning books and rewriting history, to attacking Smithsonian museums and rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, occupant Trump wants a citizenry that is ignorant, uninformed, and uneducated about America’s past.

“Dr. Hayden deserved better. The Library of Congress is the People’s Library, and this shameful abuse of power will not go unanswered.”

Last week, Congresswoman Pressley and 70 colleagues demanded an investigation into the impact of Trump’s harmful Executive Order attacking Smithsonian museums – namely, the American Art Museum, the American Women’s History Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Last month, Rep. Pressley spoke out on the House Floor condemning the Executive Order and affirming that Black history is American history. Rep. Pressley has also joined Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01) and 126 of their colleagues urging President Trump to reconsider his executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Congresswoman Pressley also joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and their Massachusetts delegation colleagues demanding answers about the Trump Administration’s staffing cuts at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and attempts to cancel NEH grants in Massachusetts and across the country.

Rep. Pressley has been an outspoken champion for intellectual freedom and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and she has been on the front lines of the fight against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to ban books and erase Black history.

In April, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech slamming Trump’s attack on Smithsonian museums and affirming that Black history is American history.

Rep. Pressley is also the author of the Books Save Lives Act legislation to confront the rise of book bans in America and ensure inclusive learning environments.

Earlier this year, amid the unprecedented onslaught against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the Trump Administration, Congresswoman Pressley re-introduced H.R. 40, legislation to establish a federal commission to examine the lasting legacy of slavery and develop reparations proposals for African American descendants of enslaved people.

Last year, Rep. Pressley and House Oversight Ranking Member Jamies Raskin introduced the Federal Government Equity Improvement Act and the Equity in Agency Planning Act to codify racial equity across federal agencies and improve government services for underserved communities.

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