Organizations Warn Fast-Track of Bill to Separate Copyright Office from Library of Congress Would Be a ‘Grave Mistake’; IP Watchdog, March 18, 2026

EILEEN MCDERMOTT, IP Watchdog; Organizations Warn Fast-Track of Bill to Separate Copyright Office from Library of Congress Would Be a ‘Grave Mistake'

"Spurred by reports that House leaders are trying to fast-track a bill to separate the U.S. Copyright Office from the Library of Congress, a coalition of consumer rights, industry, open internet and library groups has again sent a letter to the House Committee on Administration urging it to consider the bill on the regular timeline to avoid “unintended consequences.” A full committee markup of the bill is scheduled for tomorrow, March 18,

H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, would change the procedures for appointing and removing the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and the Register of Copyrights. Instead of being appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the Librarian and Director of the GPO would be appointed by a “bipartisan congressional commission” and could only be removed from office by a majority vote of the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate."