Judge rules against copyright administrator asserting that President Trump's dismissal was legitimate
In a legal development on May 26, a federal judge declined to grant an emergency request for reinstatement by Shira Perlmutter, the former head of the U.S. Copyright Office. Perlmutter, who was terminated by the Trump administration, argued in a lawsuit that only the Librarian of Congress—whom President Trump had recently removed—has the authority to hire or fire the head of the Copyright Office.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that Perlmutter failed to meet the legal burden of showing she would suffer irreparable harm if not immediately reinstated, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit against the Trump administration is ongoing.
President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress earlier this month, following the removal of Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Perlmutter's attorneys claim that the president lacks the authority to appoint a Librarian of Congress, as the position is under the legislative branch, not the executive.
In a court filing, lawyers representing Blanche argued that the President had the power to remove the Librarian and designate an acting replacement. The Trump administration faces resistance from within the Republican Party over this move, with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune privately questioning the president's actions toward the Library of Congress, according to Politico.
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) has been a vocal opponent, rejecting Perlmutter's firing in a statement. "Donald Trump's termination of Register of Copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, is a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis," Morelle said. While Perlmutter's emergency request was denied, the lawsuit is still pending, awaiting further legal proceedings.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News and FOX Business.
[1] Title 17 U.S.C. § 701(a)[2] Politico, "Trump's move to fire top copyright official raises constitution questions," May 26, 2025[3] Associated Press, "Trump administration fires top U.S. copyright official," May 22, 2025[4] Associated Press, "Trump administration fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden," May 10, 2025[5] Law360, "Shira Perlmutter Sues Trump Over Librarian Removal," May 22, 2025
- As the legal battle continues, the ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration, which was filed by Shira Perlmutter, former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, is focusing on policy-and-legislation matters relating to the authority to appoint or dismiss the Librarian of Congress, a role traditionally under the legislative branch.
- With continuing resistance from within the Republican Party and ongoing general-news coverage, the politically charged issue of the Trump administration's appointment of Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress amidst questions about the president's authority to make such a move, as opposed to the authority of the legislative branch, dominates the breaking news headlines.
