ALA Criticizes Firing of Register of Copyrights

Association urges lawmakers to stand up for Library of Congress

May 12, 2025

On May 12, American Library Association (ALA) President Cindy Hohl released a statement criticizing President Trump’s May 10 dismissal of Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. Perlmutter was fired two days after the Trump administration fired Carla Hayden, head of the Library of Congress, which oversees the US Copyright Office. Hohl’s full statement reads:

ALA is dismayed at the unlawful dismissal of Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, who has led the US Copyright Office since October 2020 with integrity, intelligence, and an understanding of intellectual property issues. Before her appointment as registrar, Perlmutter’s work with the library community on the US implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty demonstrated a commitment to improving access to information resources and reading materials for print-disabled persons in the US and around the world.

The Trump administration’s unlawful removal of Perlmutter follows a pattern of targeting library and information leaders in nonpartisan positions. Congress must stand up for its Library and intervene to counter this dangerous campaign to weaken institutional knowledge and professionalism.

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