New York ? Two lawsuits were filed Tuesday in federal court that seek to end President Bush’s electronic eavesdropping program, saying it is illegal and exceeds his constitutional powers.

The lawsuits – one filed in New York by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the other in Detroit by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups – say the program bypasses safeguards in a 1978 law requiring court approval of electronic monitoring.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is suing Bush, the head of the National Security Agency and the heads of the other major security agencies.

The organization, which represents men held as enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, must now audit communications to find whether “anything was disclosed that might undermine our representation of our clients,” said Bill Goodman, the center’s director.

The Detroit lawsuit, which names the National Security Agency and its director, said the program has impaired plaintiffs’ ability to gather information from sources abroad.

It was filed by the ACLU, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greenpeace and individuals on behalf of journalists, scholars, attorneys and others who communicate with people in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere.

A spokesman for the Justice Department disputed the lawsuits’ assertions.

“We believe these cases are without merit and plan to vigorously defend against the charges,” Brian Roehrkasse said.