President Donald Trump’s administration abruptly removed two top officials at the Library of Congress, including Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office. Perlmutter was dismissed via an email from the White House stating her position was terminated “effective immediately.” Just days earlier, Trump had also fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, whom he viewed as resistant to his agenda. Hayden—who had appointed Perlmutter in 2020—received a similar email informing her that her role as Librarian of Congress was ended without warning. Both terminations were reported by The Associated Press and were seen as part of a broader effort to replace key personnel.
In a separate case, federal prosecutors charged USAID procurement specialist Yusuf Akoll with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds. Akoll created a fake company, Naagode Consulting LLC, and falsely claimed it operated in early 2020 to qualify for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Although the business had no income and was registered months after the eligibility cutoff, he received two loans totaling $16,666. Prosecutors noted that an “information” was filed in federal court, signaling a likely plea deal. The case highlighted serious oversight failures within the Small Business Administration, which did not verify basic details such as the company’s formation date or tax history.
The incident underscored broader concerns about the government’s “pay and chase” model for distributing pandemic relief funds, which prioritized speed over verification. Critics argue that the Biden administration later compounded the problem by declining to pursue repayment of loans under $100,000, citing equity considerations. Meanwhile, USAID itself was shut down, with its functions absorbed into the State Department amid allegations of financial mismanagement and concerns about inadequate tracking of foreign-aid spending.