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The ex- leader's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to allow the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent request comes roughly six weeks after a federal appellate court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be solely fired.

Almost four weeks ago, the entire District of Columbia appeals court declined to review that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of disputes concerning executive authority to appoint preferred heads at government agencies.

The Supreme Court has generally allowed such actions, even as legal disputes proceed.

However, this particular case concerns an office inside the national library. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also advises Congress on intellectual property issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, regardless of connections to the legislative branch, the director “wields executive power” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disagreed with recommendations she provided to lawmakers in a document related to artificial intelligence.

She reportedly got an email from the White House informing her that her position was “terminated effective immediately,” as stated by her office.

A divided appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could retain her position while the case proceeds.

“The administration's claimed obvious interference with the duties of a congressional official, as she performs statutorily approved responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs supported the opinion. Both judges were nominated to the appellate court by Democratic leader Joe Biden.

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a variety of ways.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a renowned intellectual property expert. She has acted as register of copyrights since former head librarian Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president appointed deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had dismissed Hayden amid criticism from conservatives that she was promoting a “woke” program.