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The ex- president's administration on Monday petitioned the nation's highest court to allow the termination of the head of the US Copyright Office.

This emergency appeal comes roughly six weeks after a national appellate court in Washington decided that the official, Shira Perlmutter, could not be unilaterally fired.

Almost four weeks ago, the entire District of Columbia appeals court refused to reconsider that decision.

This legal matter is the latest in a line of disputes related to presidential power to place preferred heads at federal offices.

The Supreme Court has mostly permitted such dismissals, even as court disputes continue.

However, this specific case concerns an office within the Library of Congress. Perlmutter acts as the register of copyrights and also advises the legislature on copyright issues.

The government's top lawyer, D John Sauer, stated in the filing that, despite connections to the legislative branch, the director “exercises administrative authority” in regulating intellectual property rights.

Perlmutter claims she was terminated in May because the former president disagreed with advice she provided to lawmakers in a report concerning AI.

She allegedly received an message from the White House notifying her that her position was “ended effective immediately,” according to her staff.

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

“The Executive's claimed obvious interference with the duties of a Legislative Branch official, as she performs legally authorized responsibilities to counsel the legislature, appears to be a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appellate panel.

Justice J Michelle Childs supported the ruling. Both justices were nominated to the appellate court by Democrat President Joe Biden.

In dissent, Justice Justin Walker, a former president's nominee, argued that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a host of manners.”

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

The ex-leader named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the national library. The White House had fired Hayden following complaints from right-leaning groups that she was promoting a “progressive” agenda.