Career
A few months after graduating from Bridgewater College, Newlen began working at the Library of Congress in November 1975, specifically for the Congressional Research Service (CRS).[4][5] He was employed as a clerk and typist, delivering letters across the Thomas Jefferson Building.[5]
During his time at the Library of Congress, Newlen has served in various leadership positions. These have included supervisory team leader of the Senate Reference Center; head of the CRS Legislative Relations Office; and head of the Inquiry Unit. He also served as assistant law librarian for Collections, Outreach & Services; a fundraiser for and coordinator of the “Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor” exhibit; Library of Congress chief of staff; and deputy Librarian of Congress.[6] In 2017, Newlen retired as deputy Librarian of Congress.[6]
Following his 2017 retirement from the Library of Congress, Newlen was executive director and director of strategic initiatives for The Dwight D. Opperman Foundation.[7]
In 2023, the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, announced that she had appointed Newlen as the interim director of the Congressional Research Service following the resignation of the CRS director, Mary Mazanec.[8] Newlen was appointed the Principal Deputy Librarian of Congress on March 29, 2025.[9][3]
Librarian of Congress dispute
On May 8, 2025, Carla Hayden was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump through an email sent to Hayden.[10] In a separate email, Newlen proclaimed that he would serve as the acting librarian of Congress "until further instruction".[11] On May 12, four days after Hayden's dismissal, Trump appointed Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, as the acting librarian of Congress. Newlen did not immediately recognize Blanche's appointment.[3] Another official of the library who was dismissed shortly after Hayden, Shira Perlmutter has sued to dispute the legality of her dismissal,[12] as her position as Register of Copyrights is appointed by, and responsible to, the Librarian of Congress. Newlen was also appointed by Hayden.
