Trump Fires Top U.S. Copyright Official as Swamp Purge Continues

Published: Monday, May 12, 2025 at 8:59 am

Trump Fires Copyright Chief in Latest "Swamp Purge"

President Donald Trump has continued his efforts to reshape the federal government, firing Shira Perlmutter, the top U.S. copyright official, on Sunday. This move follows the recent dismissal of Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, just days prior.

Perlmutter, who served as the Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, received an email from the White House informing her of the immediate termination. The Associated Press reported on the news, highlighting the swiftness of the decision.

Hayden, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, was the first woman and first African American to hold the position of Librarian of Congress. Her ten-year term was set to expire next year. She appointed Perlmutter to lead the Copyright Office in October 2020.

The dismissals are part of a broader pattern of personnel changes within the federal government, a trend that aligns with Trump's campaign promise to "drain the swamp" of Washington, D.C. elites.

Perlmutter's office was recently involved in a significant study examining the use of copyrighted materials by artificial intelligence (AI) companies. The report, which gathered opinions from AI developers, actors, and country singers, explored the complex issue of AI training on copyrighted works and its potential impact on the creative industries.

BNN's Perspective: While the swiftness of these dismissals raises questions about the stability of leadership within key government offices, it's also understandable that a President would want to install individuals aligned with his vision. The focus on AI and copyright issues highlights the evolving challenges facing the creative industries, and it will be interesting to see how these changes impact future policy decisions.

Keywords: Donald Trump, Shira Perlmutter, Copyright Office, Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, fired, termination, swamp purge, AI, artificial intelligence, copyright, federal government, Washington DC, Barack Obama, Breitbart News

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