The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers and two other business groups are suing the Trump administration for suspending certain worker visas, saying the decision jeopardizes the nation's economic recovery.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order June 22 freezing H-1B visas for certain tech workers, H-2B visas for low-skill jobs, H-4 visas for spouses of certain visa holders, J visas for those participating in work and student exchanges, and L visas for intracompany transfers, NBC News reported. The president said the suspensions, which will remain in place until Dec. 31, were needed to preserve U.S. jobs as the economy reels from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The business groups argue just the opposite, with U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue saying in a statement that the order amounts to a "not welcome" sign to the foreign engineers, doctors and other skilled workers needed to keep the economy rolling.

"Left in place, these restrictions will push investment abroad, inhibit economic growth and reduce job creation," Donohue said.

NAM Senior Vice President and General Counsel Linda Kelly echoed Donohue's argument, saying the visa restrictions "will restrain our economic recovery at a time when the very future of our country hangs in the balance."

"Our industry should be laser-focused on leading our recovery and renewal, but these visa restrictions will hand other countries a competitive advantage because they will drive talented individuals away from the United States," she said.

The National Retail Federation and Technet have joined the lawsuit, as has Intrax, a San Francisco-based company that provides cultural exchange opportunities.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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