In early August 2025, users noticed that significant portions of the U.S. Constitution were absent from the Library of Congress’s official website. Specifically, parts of Article I, Section 8, and the entirety of Sections 9 and 10 had disappeared. These sections are crucial, detailing Congressional powers, limitations, and state restrictions. Notably, Section 9 includes the writ of habeas corpus, a fundamental safeguard against unlawful detention.
The Library of Congress attributed the omissions to a coding error. Bill Ryan, the Library’s director of communications, explained that during an update to incorporate recent Supreme Court analyses, an XML tag was inadvertently removed. This error caused the exclusion of content following the middle of Section 8. The issue has since been rectified, and measures are being implemented to prevent future occurrences.
The incident sparked public concern, especially given the current administration’s discussions about suspending habeas corpus. While the Library of Congress maintains that the removal was unintentional, the event underscores the importance of accuracy and transparency in managing foundational documents.
