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The former president's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to permit the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency request comes about a month and a half after a national appellate court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely dismissed.

Nearly one month prior, the entire District of Columbia appeals court refused to review that ruling.

This case is the most recent in a line of disputes concerning presidential power to place chosen heads at government agencies.

The Supreme Court has mostly allowed such actions, even as court disputes proceed.

However, this specific matter involves an bureau within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on intellectual property issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the filing that, regardless of ties to Congress, the director “exercises executive power” in regulating intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disagreed with recommendations she gave to lawmakers in a report related to AI.

She reportedly received an email from the White House informing her that her position was “ended starting immediately,” according to her office.

A split appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could retain her position while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The administration's alleged blatant meddling with the work of a congressional official, as she performs legally authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the opinion. Both justices were appointed to the appellate court by Democrat President Joe Biden.

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

Perlmutter's attorneys have contended that she is a well-known intellectual property specialist. She has acted as register of copyrights since ex- librarian of Congress Carla Hayden selected her to the role in October 2020.

The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the Library of Congress. The administration had dismissed Hayden following complaints from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” program.