WASHINGTON — Eight government watchdogs have sued over their mass firing that removed oversight of President Donald Trump's new administration. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington asks a judge to declare the firings unlawful and restore the inspectors general to their positions at the agencies.

The head of the independent Office of Special Counsel claims President Trump illegally fired him, the latest in a string of firings that may violate federal law.

Judge Beryl Howell excoriated the Supreme Court's immunity decision in a ruling in an unrelated FBI records case.

President Donald Trump slammed "highly political judges" Tuesday as his new administration veered closer to a constitutional clash over his plans to radically overhaul the US government.

A federal judge found Monday that the Trump administration hasn't fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending and told the White House to release billions of dollars in funding. The Trump administration quickly appealed the ruling.