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The former leader's government on Monday petitioned the US Supreme Court to allow the termination of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent appeal follows about six weeks after a federal appeals court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be unilaterally dismissed.

Nearly one month ago, the entire District of Columbia appeals court declined to reconsider that ruling.

This legal matter is the most recent in a series of disputes concerning presidential power to place chosen heads at federal offices.

The High Court has mostly allowed such actions, even as legal disputes proceed.

However, this specific case involves an office within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on intellectual property issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, regardless of ties to Congress, the director “wields administrative power” in regulating intellectual property rights.

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

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

A divided appeals court group ruled that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case moves forward.

“The Executive's alleged blatant meddling with the duties of a congressional official, as she performs statutorily authorized responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a breach of the division of government authority,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Judge J Michelle Childs supported the opinion. Both judges were nominated to the appellate court by Democrat leader Joe Biden.

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

Perlmutter's lawyers have argued that she is a renowned intellectual property specialist. She has acted as copyright director since former head librarian Carla Hayden appointed her to the role in October 2020.

The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress. The administration had fired Hayden following complaints from conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” program.