U.S. President Donald Trump was sued on Friday by the Democratic Party over a recent executive order it says violates federal election law by giving him too much power over the independent Federal Election Commission.

The lawsuit filed in the Washington, D.C., federal court by three national Democratic committees is the party's first against Trump during the Republican's second White House term.

It comes as Democrats, outnumbered in Congress, seek an effective means to counteract far-reaching changes from Trump's first six weeks of his second term, including many steps to lessen government oversight and eliminate internal dissent.

Several dozen lawsuits have challenged other actions taken by Trump since his January 20 inauguration.

Friday's lawsuit objects to a February 18 order giving the White House more control over the election commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other traditionally independent agencies that normally operate day-to-day at arm's length from the president.

Critics have called the order an unprecedented power grab.

Democrats said enforcing it would essentially substitute Trump's views on election-related disputes for those of the bipartisan election commission, and let him dictate outcomes.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice said in an email: "This department has already been fighting in court to vigorously defend President Trump's agenda and will continue to do so."

The election commission said through a spokesman that it does not discuss litigation.