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The former president's administration on Monday requested the nation's highest court to allow the removal of the director of the American copyright authority.

This emergency appeal follows roughly a month and a half after a federal appeals court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally dismissed.

Almost four weeks ago, the entire District of Columbia appeals court refused to reconsider that ruling.

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

The Supreme Court has generally allowed such actions, even as legal challenges proceed.

However, this particular matter concerns an bureau within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also advises Congress on intellectual property matters.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the filing that, despite ties to Congress, the register “exercises executive authority” in regulating intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was fired in May because the ex-leader disagreed with recommendations she provided to Congress in a document related to AI.

She allegedly received an message from the administration notifying her that her position was “ended starting immediately,” as stated by her office.

A split appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed obvious interference with the duties of a congressional officer, as she performs legally approved responsibilities to advise Congress, appears to be a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Justice Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

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

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

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

The ex-leader appointed deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had fired Hayden amid criticism from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” program.