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The ex- president's government on Monday petitioned the nation's highest court to allow the removal of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This urgent request follows roughly six weeks after a federal appellate court in Washington ruled that the director, Shira Perlmutter, could not be solely dismissed.

Almost one month prior, the entire District of Columbia appeals court refused to reconsider that decision.

This legal matter is the latest in a line of disputes concerning executive authority to place preferred heads at federal offices.

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

However, this particular matter involves an office within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also advises Congress on copyright matters.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, regardless of connections to the legislative branch, the director “exercises administrative power” in overseeing copyrights.

Perlmutter alleges she was fired in May because the ex-leader disapproved with recommendations she gave to lawmakers in a report related to AI.

She reportedly got an email from the White House notifying her that her role was “terminated effective at once,” according to her staff.

A split appellate group decided that Perlmutter could keep her job while the case moves forward.

“The Executive's claimed obvious meddling with the work of a Legislative Branch officer, as she carries out legally authorized duties to counsel Congress, appears to be a violation of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

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

In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “exercises administrative power in a variety of manners.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended that she is a well-known copyright specialist. She has acted as register of copyrights since ex- head librarian 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 administration had dismissed Hayden amid criticism from right-leaning groups that she was advancing a “woke” program.