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The former leader's administration on Monday requested the US Supreme Court to permit the termination of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency appeal follows about six weeks after a national appellate court in Washington ruled that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be unilaterally dismissed.

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

This case is the latest in a line of disputes related to presidential authority to appoint chosen leaders at federal agencies.

The High Court has mostly permitted such actions, even as court disputes continue.

However, this specific matter concerns an office within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on copyright matters.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, argued in the legal document that, regardless of ties to Congress, the register “exercises administrative authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disagreed with advice she gave to lawmakers in a document concerning artificial intelligence.

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

A divided appellate group decided that Perlmutter could keep her position while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The administration's alleged blatant interference with the work of a congressional official, as she carries out statutorily authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the division of government authority,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Judge J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both justices were appointed to the appeals court by Democratic leader Joe Biden.

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, argued that Perlmutter “uses executive power in a variety of manners.”

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

The former president named deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had fired Hayden amid complaints from conservatives that she was advancing a “progressive” program.