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The ex- president's government on Monday requested the US Supreme Court to permit the removal of the director of the US Copyright Office.

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

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

This legal matter is the most recent in a line of cases concerning presidential power to appoint chosen heads at government agencies.

The High Court has mostly permitted such dismissals, even as legal challenges proceed.

However, this particular matter concerns an office within the national library. Perlmutter serves as the copyright registrar and also counsels the legislature on intellectual property issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, despite ties to the legislative branch, the register “wields executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was terminated in May because the ex-leader disapproved with advice she gave to Congress in a report concerning artificial intelligence.

She allegedly got an message from the White House informing her that her position was “ended starting immediately,” according to her office.

A split appellate group decided that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case moves forward.

“The administration's claimed obvious interference with the work of a Legislative Branch officer, as she performs statutorily authorized responsibilities to advise Congress, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the ruling. Both judges were appointed to the appeals court by Democratic President Joe Biden.

In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises executive power in a host of ways.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a well-known intellectual property expert. She has served as copyright director since ex- head librarian Carla Hayden selected her to the role in October 2020.

The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had dismissed Hayden following criticism from conservatives that she was promoting a “progressive” program.