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Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Copyright Office Chief

By  |  September 10, 2025

A Washington-based federal appeals court has temporarily barred President Donald Trump from dismissing U.S. Copyright Office Director Shira Perlmutter while her legal challenge over the termination proceeds. The decision, issued Wednesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, reinstates Perlmutter to her post while her case moves forward, according to Reuters.

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    In a 2-1 ruling, the panel concluded that Trump’s attempt to remove Perlmutter was likely unlawful. The court pointed to what it described as unusual and extraordinary aspects of the case, including allegations of political interference in the Copyright Office, per Reuters.

    Perlmutter, who was dismissed via email on May 10, filed a lawsuit less than two weeks later. She argued that her termination came just one day after her office released a report raising questions about the legality of technology companies using copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models. She contended that Trump contradicted the report’s findings publicly and sought to exert control over the office in response.

    Related: White House, Senators Offer Contrasting Plans for AI Development

    Although a district judge initially refused to block her firing, saying she had not shown irreparable harm, the appeals court disagreed. Circuit Judge Florence Pan, writing for the majority, emphasized that the administration’s alleged interference with Perlmutter’s responsibility to advise Congress posed a serious threat to the separation of powers.

    Democratic lawmakers had previously criticized her dismissal, arguing that Congress had structured the Copyright Office to operate independently from presidential influence.

    Perlmutter’s lawyer, Brian Netter, welcomed the appellate ruling, calling it a “significant victory for the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the independence of Congress.” The White House and Copyright Office have not responded to requests for comment, according to Reuters.

    Source: Reuters