A federal judge has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s actions in firing Shira Perlmutter, the former head of the Library of Congress’ copyright office, rejecting her request to be reinstated. Perlmutter, who was removed from her position this month, argued that the Library of Congress is not under direct presidential control and that Trump overstepped in his authority to dismiss her. However, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly denied her motion, ruling that the Library of Congress operates as part of the Executive Branch and is subject to presidential oversight. Perlmutter’s legal challenge, which names Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and other Trump administration officials, argues that Trump and his subordinates overstepped by attempting to replace the Librarian of and fire her. The court has scheduled further hearings on whether to issue a preliminary injunction to block Trump’s actions.
Perlmutter’s lawsuit asserts that the Library of Congress is not an executive agency but rather an autonomous congressional branch, and that only the Librarian of Congress, who is a Senate-confirmed official, can hire and fire the register of copyrights. However, the Justice Department represented Blanche and others in an opposing legal argument, stating that the Library of Congress is an executive branch agency and subject to presidential control under federal law. This legal dispute has created a standoff at the Library of Congress, where Trump’s attempt to install Blanche as acting librarian has been stalled, leaving Robert Randolph Newlen in temporary control. Key lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Democrats like Rep. Joe Morelle, have criticized the administration’s actions, arguing that the president has no authority to appoint an acting librarian or interfere with the Library’s personnel decisions. Meanwhile, Republican leaders overseeing the library have not responded to requests for comment, leaving the situation in legal limbo for now.
Perlmutter’s legal team has raised concerns about the potential for the executive branch to gain access to confidential congressional information, including copyright deposits, which they argue should remain protected. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, has called for Congress to take bipartisan action to codify full congressional control of the Library of Congress, condemning what he calls an unprecedented encroachment by the White House. As the lawsuit continues, the leadership of both the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office remains in uncertainty, with the potential for a long legal battle over the extent of presidential authority in governing these federal agencies.