US EditionFired Copyright Office Head Sues Trump Administration over Removal
- Shira Perlmutter, appointed Register of Copyrights in 2020 by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, filed a lawsuit on May 22, 2025, after her removal following Hayden’s dismissal at the Library of Congress.
- Perlmutter asserts in a lawsuit that the authority to appoint or remove the Register of Copyrights resides exclusively with the Librarian of Congress, and that President Trump did not have the power to dismiss her or designate Todd Blanche as an interim Librarian through email.
- The lawsuit claims Perlmutter’s removal was unlawful and challenges Blanche’s role as acting Librarian amid the Library’s recent publication of a Copyright and AI report addressing fair use in AI training.
- Perlmutter seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction to restore her position and prevent Blanche from exercising Librarian powers, arguing the dismissal lacks legal validity without an authorized replacement.
- This legal dispute occurs alongside political tensions over AI regulation and copyright law enforcement, with implications for state AI laws and the balance of authority in copyright governance.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Fired US copyright office director sues Trump administration for unconstitutional removal
Former Director of the US Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday for improper termination after she was fired earlier this month. Perlmutter filed her complaint with the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that her termination was unconstitutional and cannot take effect. She further asserted that only the US Congress can remove her from her position. The …
The Librarian of Congress Should Support the Founders’ Goal of Protecting American Creators
President Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on May 9. Since then, he’s announced that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will assume the role of acting librarian of Congress. Trump’s ultimate decision of whom to appoint as the librarian of Congress is of more consequence than people might think. The classic image of a librarian as someone whose only job is to assist young students in an old, quiet building does not apply to…
The Legal Fight Against Trump’s Library Of Congress Power Grab Begins
Hello it’s the weekend. This is The Weekender ☕️ The fired head of the U.S. Copyright Office is fighting back against the Trump administration’s recent attempt to seize control of the Library of Congress, which, as the name suggests, is a legislative branch agency. As TPM has reported, Democrats in the House have already taken some action to raise the alarm after President Trump abruptly fired the Librarian of Congress and then, days later, the …
Fired Copyright Office Director Sues Trump Administration Over Dismissal
Shira Perlmutter, the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, filed a federal lawsuit on May 22 against President Donald Trump and top officials in his administration, arguing her recent firing was unconstitutional and must be reversed. In the 14-page complaint, Perlmutter alleges that her May 10 dismissal—sent by email—violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution, which she says vest authority over her position in Congress, not the White House…
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