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The former leader's administration on Monday petitioned the nation's highest court to allow the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent appeal comes roughly a month and a half after a federal appeals court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely fired.

Almost one month prior, the entire District of Columbia circuit court refused to review that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of cases related to executive authority to appoint chosen leaders at federal offices.

The Supreme Court has generally allowed such dismissals, even as court disputes proceed.

However, this particular case involves an bureau inside the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also counsels the legislature on intellectual property issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, regardless of ties to the legislative branch, the register “exercises administrative authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the former president disagreed with advice she provided to lawmakers in a report concerning AI.

She allegedly received an message from the White House informing her that her position was “terminated effective immediately,” according to her office.

A split appeals court group ruled that Perlmutter could retain her position while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The Executive's alleged blatant meddling with the work of a congressional officer, as she performs statutorily authorized duties to advise Congress, strikes us as a violation of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Judge J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both justices were nominated to the appellate court by Democrat President Joe Biden.

In opposition, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a variety of manners.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a well-known copyright expert. She has served as register of copyrights since former head librarian Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The White House had fired Hayden amid criticism from conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.