Instant Insight
30-Second Take
- Shira Perlmutter, the former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over her abrupt removal.
- Perlmutter argues that only the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, had the authority to terminate her, not President Trump.
- The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s use of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to appoint new officials to the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office.
+ Dive Deeper
Quick Brief
2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
Shira Perlmutter was dismissed from her role as Register of Copyrights on May 10, 2025, shortly after President Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden via email on May 8, 2025. Perlmutter’s lawsuit contends that her removal was unlawful because President Trump does not have the authority to terminate her.
Core Players
- Shira Perlmutter – Former Register of Copyrights
- Carla Hayden – Former Librarian of Congress
- Donald Trump – President Trump
- Todd Blanche – Trump’s nominee for acting Librarian of Congress
- Paul Perkins – Designated to take over Perlmutter’s role as acting Register of Copyrights
Key Numbers
- May 8, 2025: Date Carla Hayden was fired by President Trump
- May 10, 2025: Date Shira Perlmutter was terminated
- 2020: Year Perlmutter was appointed as Register of Copyrights by Carla Hayden
- May 12, 2025: Date Todd Blanche’s representatives attempted to assume control at the Library of Congress
+ Full Analysis
Full Depth
Complete Coverage
The Catalyst
The controversy began when President Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden via email on May 8, 2025. Two days later, Shira Perlmutter was terminated from her position as Register of Copyrights.
Perlmutter’s lawsuit, filed on May 22, 2025, in a Washington federal court, argues that President Trump’s actions were illegal and ineffective because only the Librarian of Congress has the authority to appoint and dismiss the Register of Copyrights.
Inside Forces
The internal dynamics of this dispute revolve around the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Perlmutter’s lawsuit asserts that President Trump’s attempt to use the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to appoint new officials to the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office oversteps his authority.
The Library of Congress staff has refused to recognize Todd Blanche’s authority, leading to a standoff that highlights the legal and administrative tensions.
Power Dynamics
The power struggle here involves the legislative and executive branches. Lawmakers from both parties have questioned President Trump’s authority to appoint an acting successor for Hayden, arguing that the Vacancies Act does not apply to legislative branch entities.
Perlmutter’s lawsuit supports this viewpoint, emphasizing that President Trump’s actions are a “brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.”[5]
Outside Impact
The broader implications of this dispute extend to the integrity of the Library of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office. The American Library Association has expressed dismay over Perlmutter’s dismissal, highlighting her contributions to intellectual property issues and access to information resources.
The standoff also raises concerns about the politicization of nonpartisan positions and the potential weakening of institutional knowledge and professionalism.[4]
Future Forces
The outcome of this lawsuit will have significant implications for the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. If the court rules in favor of Perlmutter, it could limit President Trump’s ability to unilaterally control appointments within the Library of Congress.
Key areas to watch include the court’s interpretation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the constitutional separation of powers.
Data Points
- May 8, 2025: Carla Hayden fired by President Trump
- May 10, 2025: Shira Perlmutter terminated
- May 12, 2025: Todd Blanche’s representatives attempt to assume control at the Library of Congress
- May 22, 2025: Perlmutter files lawsuit against the Trump administration
The ongoing legal battle between Shira Perlmutter and the Trump administration underscores critical issues of constitutional authority and the separation of powers. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the governance of the Library of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office.
