Ranking Members Padilla, Morelle Condemn Trump Administration’s Brazen Attempt to Take Over Library of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, issued the following joint statement after the Trump Administration tried to take over the Library of Congress, a legislative branch agency:

"Let us be very clear: the Library of Congress is part of the legislative branch and always has been. The President of the United States has no authority to appoint an acting Librarian of Congress or terminate the Register of Copyrights. It is extremely concerning that Trump sent executive branch officials from the Department of Justice to take over a legislative branch agency, especially since the Library's Congressional Research Service maintains large amounts of privileged Congressional data and other sensitive information. We commend the Library's leadership for doing the right thing under the Constitution. They and the Library staff deserve our strong support.

"We cannot stand by and allow Trump's continued power-hungry assault on the legislative branch. Congress must stand up for Article One of the Constitution and defend the nonpartisan Library and the legislative branch from White House political control."

Last week, Senator Padilla and Representative Morelle each blasted President Trump's abrupt firing of Dr. Carla Hayden from her role as the Librarian of Congress.

###