The Trump administration has reportedly terminated Shira Perlmutter, the head of the US Copyright Office, via email. This action has raised significant concerns, particularly among lawmakers, regarding the administration’s approach to copyright laws in relation to artificial intelligence (AI).

Representative Joe Morelle commented on the matter, stating that the sudden dismissal represents a “brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis.” He further implied that the firing was directly related to Perlmutter’s refusal to approve Elon Musk’s initiatives concerning the utilization of copyrighted materials for AI training.

Perlmutter, who had been instrumental in modernizing the Copyright Office since her appointment in 2020, was praised by Morelle for her contributions to navigating the complexities of AI and intellectual property rights.

This dismissal appears to be a part of broader changes within the Trump administration, as it moves to reshape various regulatory bodies amidst ongoing debates about AI’s role in transforming copyrighted content without appropriate licensing.