Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Court Ruling and Fire Copyright Office Head

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow President Trump to fire Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office.

“TheTrump administrationasked theSupreme Courton Monday to allow it to fire Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter after a federal appeals court ordered her reinstatement last month”

Washington Examiner

Lower courts had limited the president’s ability to remove her.

Washington Examiner

Newsweek reports that this request is intensifying a constitutional dispute over presidential removal powers.

Spectrum News notes that the emergency appeal came about six weeks after a D.C. appeals court ruled that Perlmutter could not be dismissed unilaterally.

The Washington Examiner highlights that the appeals court had ordered her reinstatement.

Bloomberg Law News specifies that the Justice Department filed a stay request to Chief Justice John Roberts to pause the ruling that temporarily reinstated her.

At the core is a clash over whether the Register of Copyrights is an executive official whom the president can remove, or a legislative-branch officer protected from presidential firing.

The administration argues Perlmutter exercises executive authority and thus can be removed by the president.

PBS

Washington Examiner quotes Solicitor General D. John Sauer saying the Librarian and Register “exercise executive powers.”

By contrast, Deltaplex News notes an appeals court found both the Librarian of Congress and the Register are “legislative officers.”

CNN reports a 2-1 D.C. Circuit panel concluded the copyright director “can only be removed by the Senate-confirmed Librarian of Congress,” viewing Trump’s attempt as a separation-of-powers violation.

Newsweek similarly reports the administration’s contention that Perlmutter’s functions are executive in nature.

The case also turns on the firing sequence and alleged motives.

“Monday, October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM By Blake Brittain WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump’s administration on Monday asked the U”

Fine Day 102.3

Bloomberg Law News reports Trump dismissed Perlmutter in May after firing Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and installing an acting replacement, who then removed Perlmutter.

Deltaplex News describes the same chain of events.

CNN adds that Perlmutter’s dismissal followed her May report suggesting AI training would likely require licensing fees from tech companies.

Bloomberg Law News reports she claimed retaliation for advising Congress on AI.

Both CNN and Bloomberg note the appeals court viewed the removal as a separation-of-powers problem.

Beyond Perlmutter’s case, media outlets differ on how this situation fits into larger power struggles.

Washington Examiner (Western Alternative) places it within a pattern of challenges to independent agency firings and notes the Supreme Court will hear a related case on December 8.

Roll Call

Bloomberg Law News (Other) similarly reports that related arguments are scheduled for December.

Newsweek (Western Mainstream) frames the issue in the context of Trump’s efforts to install loyalists in key positions.

In contrast, Fine Day 102.3 (Other) claims the Court’s 6-3 conservative majority has consistently supported Trump since he resumed the presidency.

Fine Day 102.3 also states the Court is set to hear cases related to the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and FTC member Rebecca Slaughter, details not mentioned by mainstream or legal-focused reports.

Key next steps remain uncertain.

“Sauer argued that the lower court's ruling was a change from previous determinations that the Library of Congress and Copyright Office fall under the executive branch, which would allow Trump to fire officers who exercise executive power”

justthenews

Spectrum News places the emergency appeal roughly six weeks after the adverse appellate ruling.

justthenews

Bloomberg Law News adds that Perlmutter’s response at the Supreme Court is due in November.

Washington Examiner contrasts lower-court outcomes, noting the district court denied reinstatement while the appeals court granted it.

Newsweek underscores the stakes of the constitutional fight over removal power.

Together, the reports highlight a fast-moving dispute with unresolved constitutional and institutional questions.