Amazon and SpaceX are seeking to hamstring the National Labor Relations Board, asking a court to declare its processes for upholding labor law unconstitutional. But judges on a three-person panel appeared skeptical when the companies presented their arguments Monday.

SpaceX and Amazon are asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to find the National Labor Relations Board unconstitutional. The federal agency is tasked with enforcing workers' right to organize.

A ruling in favor of the companies could immensely diminish – or paralyze – the nearly century-old agency, which is tasked with enforcing labor laws and settling labor-related complaints workers

The SpaceX lawsuit was filed against the NLRB in January after the agency accused the company of unlawfully firing eight employees who had cosigned an open letter in which they criticized Musk and had accused the company of creating the impression of surveillance at the company.

Amazon and SpaceX say the government agency violates the separation of powers provision and its administrative law process is unconstitutional.

SpaceX and Amazon have initiated a bold legal challenge against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), questioning its constitutionality and power.

Attorneys for Amazon and Elon Musk’s SpaceX argued in a federal appeals court Monday that the National Labor Relations Board’s structure is unconstitutional, advancing a legal fight that may last into the Trump administration where Musk is expected to oversee bureaucratic cost-cutting.

A U.S. Appeals court is likely to rule against Amazon and SpaceX for questioning the constitutionality of the structure of the National Labor Relation's Board (NLRB) on Monday, citing that the move may have been done in haste.