In a bold move, President Donald Trump’s administration has sacked Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, just days after terminating Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
These firings signal a decisive push to root out bureaucrats seen as obstacles to the America First agenda, and both dismissals were executed swiftly via White House emails, underscoring the administration’s no-nonsense approach, as Fox News reports.
The Trump administration fired Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, on Thursday, followed by Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights, on Saturday. This shake-up targets officials perceived as misaligned with Trump’s vision for a streamlined, patriot-focused government.
Hayden, the first woman and African American to serve as Librarian of Congress, received an email from the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office stating her position was terminated effective immediately. Perlmutter, appointed by Hayden in October 2020, was similarly notified via email that her role as head of the U.S. Copyright Office ended abruptly.
The U.S. Copyright Office, overseen by the Library of Congress, processes roughly 500,000 copyright applications annually, protecting millions of creative works. Perlmutter’s leadership was marked by a recent report on whether AI companies can use copyrighted materials to train their systems. This report, launched in 2023, drew input from thousands, including AI developers, actors, and country singers.
Perlmutter, who holds a law degree and has prior experience at the Patent and Trademark Office, also served at the Copyright Office in the late 1990s. Her tenure emphasized the “centrality of human creativity” in copyright protections, particularly when addressing AI’s role in creative expression.
In January, Perlmutter clarified that copyright law prioritizes human-driven creativity over machine-generated content. She argued that protecting material solely produced by machines would undermine the constitutional purpose of copyright. “Where that creativity is expressed through the use of AI systems, it continues to enjoy protection,” Perlmutter stated in January. She further noted that extending protections to machine-determined content would weaken copyright’s core principles.
The White House’s email to Perlmutter was curt: “Your position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately.” No further explanation was provided, and the White House declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
Hayden’s dismissal email, sent by the Presidential Personnel Office, was equally blunt. “Carla, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately,” it read. The email concluded with a terse “Thank you for your service.”
These firings are part of a broader effort to purge government officials viewed as hostile to Trump’s agenda. Hayden’s termination, in particular, aligns with the administration’s focus on dismantling entrenched elites who prioritize progressive ideals over American interests. Perlmutter’s ousting appears tied to her office’s cautious stance on AI, which some see as stifling innovation.
The Copyright Office’s AI report stirred debate, as it grappled with balancing creators’ rights against the rapid rise of AI technologies. Perlmutter’s insistence on human creativity as the cornerstone of copyright law clashed with tech-driven visions of progress, potentially putting her at odds with Trump’s pro-innovation stance.
Hayden’s historic appointment as Librarian of Congress was celebrated by progressive circles when it was announced, but her leadership was scrutinized by those who felt the Library of Congress veered too far into woke priorities. Her firing reflects a rejection of identity-driven appointments in favor of officials who align with traditional values.
Perlmutter’s legal background and long career in intellectual property made her a prominent figure, but her dismissal suggests a shift toward leaders who prioritize economic strength and national interests. The Copyright Office’s role in safeguarding American creativity remains critical, especially for small businesses and independent artists who rely on these protections.
The Trump administration’s actions send a clear message: government institutions must serve the American people, not globalist or elitist agendas. By removing Hayden and Perlmutter, the White House is paving the way for leaders who will champion faith, family, and economic sovereignty.
As the dust settles, the Library of Congress and Copyright Office face an uncertain future, but one thing is clear: Trump’s team is wasting no time in reshaping federal institutions to reflect the will of working-class Americans.
