Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, is in the middle of a legal battle against the Trump administration. She’s filed a lawsuit claiming her dismissal was unconstitutional, arguing that Congress—not the President—has authority over her position. Perlmutter wants the court to block Trump from replacing her and confirm her rightful place as the Register of Copyrights.
President Trump recently removed Perlmutter and Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, from their positions. After their removal, Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting librarian, which Perlmutter insists is illegal. She argues the Library of Congress isn’t an executive agency, so the Federal Vacancies Reform Act doesn’t apply here.
Perlmutter, who was appointed by Hayden in 2020, says Trump’s actions breach the separation-of-powers principle. She also claims that the designation of Paul Perkins, a Department of Justice official, to her role is legally unfounded. Perlmutter’s lawsuit follows a report she led on AI systems and copyrighted materials.
That report, out on May 9, stated that some AI training could require licensing under U.S. law. While it notes some AI uses might qualify as “fair use,” others likely won’t. Just a day after this report, Perlmutter got an email from Trent Morse, a deputy assistant to the president, notifying her of her abrupt termination.
The lawsuit mentions a tense incident at the Library of Congress post-firing. DOJ officials, allegedly sent by Blanche, tried to take over leadership at the Copyright Office. Library staff contacted the Capitol Police, who have authority over the area, and the officials eventually left without incident.
The White House and Department of Justice have stayed silent on the matter, not commenting to The Epoch Times or other media outlets. Spokespeople for the Copyright Office and Perlmutter’s lawyer also chose not to comment. In contrast, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did speak out on the situation.
Leavitt explained that Hayden’s removal was due to her focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which she claims didn’t align with taxpayer interests. She criticized Hayden for allegedly putting inappropriate books in the library for children. Leavitt stated that Trump was within his rights to remove her.
Perlmutter’s legal team, featuring former U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, argues for the independence of the Copyright Office. They stress that Congress must appoint anyone to Perlmutter’s position. The case highlights ongoing legal clashes between the Trump administration and federal officials.
The lawsuit insists that only the Librarian of Congress has the right to remove Perlmutter from her role. It challenges Trump’s authority in making such decisions. The case adds another layer to the broader disputes between Trump and various governmental entities.
