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The ex- president's administration on Monday requested the nation's highest court to permit the termination of the director of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency request comes about six weeks after a national appeals court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be solely fired.

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

This case is the latest in a line of cases concerning presidential authority to place chosen heads at federal agencies.

The Supreme Court has mostly allowed such dismissals, even as legal disputes continue.

However, this specific case concerns an bureau within the national library. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also counsels the legislature on copyright issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, despite connections to the legislative branch, the register “exercises executive power” in regulating intellectual property rights.

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

She allegedly got an message from the White House notifying her that her role was “terminated starting immediately,” as stated by her office.

A divided appeals court panel decided that Perlmutter could retain her job while the case proceeds.

“The Executive's claimed blatant meddling with the duties of a Legislative Branch official, as she performs legally authorized responsibilities to advise the legislature, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

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

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises executive power in a variety of ways.”

Perlmutter's lawyers have contended 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 former president appointed deputy attorney general Todd Blanche to replace Hayden at the national library. The White House had fired Hayden amid complaints from conservatives that she was advancing a “woke” agenda.