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The ex- leader's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to permit the removal of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent request comes roughly a month and a half after a national appeals court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be solely fired.

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

This legal matter is the latest in a line of cases related to presidential power to place chosen leaders at government offices.

The Supreme Court has generally permitted such actions, even as court disputes proceed.

However, this specific case involves an office 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, despite connections to the legislative branch, the register “exercises administrative power” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the former president disagreed with advice she gave to lawmakers in a document concerning AI.

She reportedly got an message from the White House notifying her that her position was “terminated effective immediately,” as stated by her office.

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

“The Executive's alleged obvious interference with the work of a Legislative Branch official, as she performs legally authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a breach of the division of government authority,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

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

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises administrative authority in a host of ways.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have contended that she is a renowned copyright specialist. She has acted as copyright director since ex- head librarian Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president appointed assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The administration had fired Hayden amid complaints from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.