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The ex- leader's administration on Monday petitioned the US Supreme Court to permit the termination of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent request comes about six weeks after a national appellate court in Washington decided that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.

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

This case is the latest in a series of disputes related to executive power to place chosen heads at government agencies.

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

However, this particular matter concerns an bureau within the national library. Perlmutter serves as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on intellectual property matters.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, despite connections to Congress, the register “wields administrative power” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the former president disapproved with advice she provided to Congress in a document related to artificial intelligence.

She allegedly got an email from the administration notifying her that her role was “terminated starting immediately,” according to her staff.

A divided appellate group decided that Perlmutter could retain her job while the legal dispute proceeds.

“The administration's alleged blatant interference with the duties of a Legislative Branch official, as she carries out statutorily approved responsibilities to counsel Congress, appears to be a breach of the division of government authority,” wrote Justice Florence Pan for the appeals court.

Justice J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both judges were nominated to the appeals court by Democratic leader Joe Biden.

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

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a well-known copyright specialist. She has served 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 replace Hayden at the national library. The White House had fired Hayden following criticism from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “woke” program.