In 2020, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden appointed Shira Perlmutter as the Register of Copyrights–a position that, by law, can only be filled or removed by the Librarian of Congress.
In May 2025, President Trump attempted to remove Perlmutter from her role and replace her with a Department of Justice official. He also attempted to name Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA).
On May 22, Democracy Forward and our co-counsel, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, filed a complaint on behalf of Shira Perlmutter, challenging her unlawful termination. The complaint argues that these attempted replacements are legally invalid because the Library of Congress is part of the Legislative Branch, not the Executive Branch.
This case challenges the unprecedented power grab by the Trump-Vance administration to take over a nonpartisan congressional institution and seeks to preserve the independence of the Library of Congress and the integrity of the U.S. Copyright Office.
If these terminations are allowed, it would set a dangerous precedent that the President can unilaterally remove Congress-appointed officers and replace them with Executive Branch officials.
Though the initial motion for emergency temporary relief was denied, Perlmutter filed a motion for preliminary injunction, seeking to block her termination while the case develops.
Timeline:
- May 22, 2025 –- We filed the lawsuit on behalf of Shira Perlmutter, challenging her unlawful termination, and a motion for declaratory and injunctive relief seeking a temporary restraining order.
- May 28, 2025 — The District Court for the District of Columbia denied the motion for a temporary restraining order.
- June 10, 2025 — Motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block Perlmutter’s termination was filed.
The case is Perlmutter v. Blanche