# Robert Newlen A career official of the [[Library of Congress]] — Principal Deputy Librarian and, by nearly five decades of service, one of its most senior staff. After the May 2025 dismissal of [[Carla Hayden]], the Library recognized Newlen as **Acting Librarian of Congress**, the position it maintains he lawfully holds as Hayden's deputy. ## Stub — fill out Newlen's claim to the acting role is contested: the White House named Deputy Attorney General [[Todd Blanche]] as acting Librarian, and a standoff followed when Justice Department officials sought entry to the Copyright Office claiming Blanche's authority. Library staff refused, recognizing only Newlen. The dispute — an unprecedented executive attempt to seize a legislative-branch institution — remained unresolved into 2026. To expand: full LOC career, prior stint as interim director of the [[Congressional Research Service]], and role in the 2025–2026 leadership fight. ## See also - [[Library of Congress]] - [[Carla Hayden]] - [[Legislative Agencies Hub]]