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The former leader's administration on Monday requested 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 federal appellate court in Washington ruled that the official, Shira Perlmutter, cannot be solely fired.

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

This legal matter is the latest in a line of disputes related to presidential power to appoint preferred heads at government agencies.

The High Court has generally permitted such actions, even as legal disputes continue.

However, this specific case involves an office inside the Library of Congress. Perlmutter acts as the copyright registrar and also counsels the legislature on intellectual property issues.

The solicitor general, D John Sauer, stated in the legal document that, despite connections to the legislative branch, the register “wields executive authority” in overseeing intellectual property rights.

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

She reportedly received an email from the White House informing her that her role was “terminated effective at once,” as stated by her office.

A split appellate panel ruled that Perlmutter could retain her position while the legal dispute moves forward.

“The administration's claimed blatant meddling with the duties of a congressional officer, as she carries out statutorily authorized duties to counsel Congress, strikes us as a breach of the separation of powers,” wrote Judge Florence Pan for the appeals court.

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

In dissent, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, wrote that Perlmutter “exercises executive authority in a host of manners.”

Perlmutter's attorneys have argued that she is a well-known copyright specialist. She has acted as register of copyrights since former librarian of Congress Carla Hayden appointed her to the position in October 2020.

The former president named assistant attorney general Todd Blanche to succeed Hayden at the Library of Congress. The White House had dismissed Hayden following criticism from conservatives that she was promoting a “woke” agenda.