Donald Trump is dropping a series of transgender discrimination cases brought by the US government against private companies.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency, is moving to dismiss half a dozen such cases against employers and will stop investigating new complaints on gender identity, The Washington Post reported.

Last month, Mr Trump signed an executive order declaring it was US government policy that there were two genders: male and female.

The EEOC has subsequently filed documents in six cases arguing that the lawsuits that were brought before Mr Trump returned to office “may be inconsistent” with the US president’s order.

Critics argue that the order will run afoul of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in a 2020 case, where justices held that sacking people because of their gender identity violated the Civil Rights Act.

Among the claims that are being dismissed are those brought against the fast food company Wendy’s, where trans workers were allegedly called “it”, and the cosmetics chain Lush, where trans employees said they had been touched inappropriately.

Both companies denied the allegations.