The administration of President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit claiming that dozens of labor contracts between unions and federal agencies are invalid because they impede Trump's abilities to purge the federal workforce and protect national security.

The departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and four other agencies sued in Waco, Texas, federal court late on Thursday seeking a ruling that an executive order, opens new tab issued by Trump earlier in the day excluding certain agencies from collective bargaining requirements allows them to cancel existing contracts.