Library of Congress official Trump tried to fire can keep her job for now, Supreme Court says
Library of Congress official Trump tried to fire can keep her job for now, Supreme Court says
Publish Date: 2026-06-30 12:19:00
Source Domain: www.cnn.com
- The Supreme Court temporarily blocked President Trump from firing Shira Perlmutter, the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, permitting her to stay in her position pending lower court reviews.
- Trump initiated a conflict with the Library of Congress by removing Carla Hayden, its former Librarian, attempting to replace her with Todd Blanche, and also seeking to dismiss Perlmutter.
- The Supreme Court’s decision refrained from addressing the legal merits of Trump’s claims about firing Perlmutter.
- Trump’s attempts to remove Perlmutter occurred amid two key Supreme Court rulings affirming broad presidential powers to dismiss executive branch leaders in independent agencies.
- Perlmutter argues that her role in the legislative branch should protect her from presidential removal. Previously, a DC Circuit Court of Appeals panel agreed with Perlmutter that only the Senate-confirmed Librarian of Congress can remove her.
- High-level Trump allies showed up at the Library of Congress last year claiming to assume control based on Trump’s letter, but were rejected by library officials who challenged the appointments in court.
- Perlmutter’s removal bid allegedly stemmed from her report suggesting licensing requirements for copyrighted material used in AI, contrary to Trump’s apparent opinion.
- The Trump administration contested the DC Circuit’s earlier call to uphold Perlmutter’s protection, arguing that her roles encompass executive duties, notably international copyright diplomacy.
