The appointment comes after President Trump unexpectedly fired Carla Hayden, the head of the Congressional Library, a few days ago.
Hayden, who was appointed by then-President Barack Obama in 2016, was in the middle of a ten-year term. She was the first woman and the first black person to hold the position.
Hayden has been praised for making the books, images, and recordings of the US National Library more accessible to the general public. However, she has also received criticism from conservative groups for being anti-Trump, radical, and too "woke" (a term for awareness of justice and inclusion that is seen as excessive political correctness in some circles), notes AP.
The Congressional Library contains millions of volumes and is described as the world's largest. It is where research for the legislative work of Congress is conducted, and it is where the country's copyright authority is based.
Angry Congressional Democrats are calling the firing of Hayden illegal and are demanding an investigation, according to the media.
Todd Blanche comes from the Justice Department. Shortly after the election victory last fall, Trump nominated him as Assistant Attorney General. It is unclear whether he has any experience from the library world.
