Washington, D.C. – A quiet but dangerous shift is unfolding in the heart of America’s most powerful institutions. Former President Donald Trump’s attempt to install his own officials at the Library of Congress has raised alarm over the erosion of legislative independence. His appointees were denied entry at the U.S. Copyright Office, but the question remains: How long until the balance of power is undone completely?

Trump’s decision to remove Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and first Black person to hold the position, has led lawmakers to warn of an unprecedented power grab. Hayden’s removal coincides with the ousting of Shira Perlmutter, the official responsible for overseeing U.S. copyright policy, just weeks after she issued a critical report questioning AI’s unchecked use of copyrighted content.

The implications are chilling. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump’s interference, suggesting his actions may have violated the law. Meanwhile, Congress scrambles to contain what some are calling an outright attack on intellectual property protections, the foundation of American creativity and innovation.

The unraveling of copyright laws would devastate creators, musicians, writers, and filmmakers. Without protection, their works could be stripped of ownership, stolen, rebranded, and sold—without permission or payment. The entertainment industry could collapse, with books, films, and music reduced to disposable commodities for corporate AI models.

Musk and Trump: The Architects of a New System

Elon Musk, one of the world’s most powerful tech moguls, has openly supported abolishing copyright laws. He recently agreed with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s call to remove intellectual property protections, which could allow major AI firms to consume unlimited copyrighted material without consequence.

Trump’s efforts to reshape the U.S. Copyright Office could align perfectly with Musk’s vision. If Musk’s AI ventures receive unrestricted access to content, human creators may soon find themselves competing against a corporate-controlled machine that profits off their work while refusing them any compensation or rights.

Beyond policy, both men have demonstrated a keen ability to shape financial systems to their advantage. Musk’s erratic influence over cryptocurrency markets has shown how a single figure can manipulate investor behavior, with his endorsements or dismissals of assets like Dogecoin causing drastic fluctuations. Trump, meanwhile, has leveraged his brand to launch crypto ventures that allow investors, including foreign entities, to gain financial ties to U.S. political figures. These actions underscore a larger pattern—control over industries, resources, and policy decisions—that extends beyond copyright and into the broader influence of wealth and power.

A Future Without Ownership

If copyright protections are erased, the consequences would ripple across every industry. The artistic world could see an era where nothing is owned or protected, and everything is harvested by AI models controlled by a few corporate giants. Trade agreements could collapse, creators could lose their livelihoods, and innovation could stagnate as content creation becomes an exploited resource rather than an intellectual pursuit.

The battle over copyright is no longer about legal technicalities but about who controls the future of creativity itself. Will Congress act before it’s too late? Or are we witnessing the quiet dismantling of intellectual freedom in America?