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The ex- president's government on Monday requested the nation's highest court to permit the removal of the head of the American copyright authority.

This urgent appeal follows roughly a month and a half after a national appeals court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally dismissed.

Nearly one month ago, the full District of Columbia appeals court refused to reconsider that decision.

This case is the latest in a line of cases related to presidential power to appoint preferred heads at federal agencies.

The High Court has generally permitted such dismissals, even as court challenges proceed.

However, this specific case involves an office inside the national library. Perlmutter serves as the copyright registrar and also counsels Congress on copyright issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, argued in the filing that, despite ties to the legislative branch, the director “exercises executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the ex-leader disagreed with recommendations she provided to Congress in a document concerning artificial intelligence.

She allegedly received an email from the White House informing her that her position was “ended effective at once,” according to her office.

A split appeals court panel decided that Perlmutter could keep her job while the legal dispute moves forward.

“The Executive's alleged blatant meddling with the duties of a congressional official, as she carries out legally authorized responsibilities to advise Congress, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” stated Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Judge J Michelle Childs joined the opinion. Both justices were appointed to the appellate court by Democratic President Joe Biden.

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

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

The ex-leader named deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the national library. The White House had dismissed Hayden following complaints from conservatives that she was promoting a “progressive” program.