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The former president's administration on Monday petitioned the nation's highest court to permit the termination of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency appeal comes roughly six weeks after a national appeals court in Washington ruled that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely dismissed.

Almost one month ago, the full District of Columbia circuit court declined to review that decision.

This case is the latest in a series of cases concerning presidential power to appoint chosen heads at federal offices.

The Supreme Court has mostly permitted such actions, even as court challenges proceed.

However, this specific matter concerns an bureau within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also advises Congress on copyright issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, regardless of connections to the legislative branch, the register “wields executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disapproved with advice she provided to Congress in a document related to AI.

She allegedly got an message from the White House informing her that her role was “terminated effective at once,” according to her staff.

A split appellate group ruled that Perlmutter could keep her job while the legal dispute moves forward.

“The administration's alleged obvious meddling with the work of a Legislative Branch officer, as she carries out legally authorized responsibilities to advise Congress, strikes us as a violation of the division of government authority,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Justice J Michelle Childs joined the opinion. Both judges were nominated to the appeals court by Democrat President Joe Biden.

In opposition, Judge Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “uses administrative power in a variety of manners.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a renowned copyright specialist. She has served as register of copyrights since former head librarian Carla Hayden selected her to the position in October 2020.

The former president appointed deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had dismissed Hayden following criticism from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “woke” program.