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The ex- president's administration on Monday petitioned the US Supreme Court to allow the removal of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency appeal comes about six weeks after a federal appellate court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be unilaterally fired.

Nearly four weeks ago, the full District of Columbia circuit court declined to review that ruling.

This legal matter is the latest in a series of cases related to presidential power to place chosen heads at federal agencies.

The Supreme Court has generally allowed such dismissals, even as court disputes continue.

However, this specific case concerns an office within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also advises the legislature on copyright matters.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, regardless of ties to Congress, the register “exercises executive power” in regulating copyrights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the ex-leader disapproved with advice she gave to Congress in a document concerning AI.

She allegedly received an message from the administration notifying her that her position was “terminated effective immediately,” according to her office.

A split appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could keep her position while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed blatant meddling with the duties of a congressional official, as she carries out statutorily approved responsibilities to counsel the legislature, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” stated Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

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

In opposition, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “uses executive power in a variety of ways.”

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

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