carla hayden library of congress mellon foundation.

Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress fired by President Donald Trump, has joined the the country’s foremost philanthropic supporter of the arts. Announced Monday, she will serve as a senior Andrew W. Mellon Foundation fellow advising on efforts to advance public knowledge. Hayden, the first woman and African American to hold her previous role, was dismissed amid a conservative group’s accusations that she promoted “radical” material as the White House purged perceived opponents of Trump. Mellon says the appointment comes as libraries and other institutions face challenges such as artificial intelligence, funding withdrawals and censorship efforts.