Republicans lock horns with Trump as new Congress sworn in

House Republicans were forced to back down Tuesday on plans to gut a congressional ethics office as Donald Trump rebuked them over the move, in an embarrassing clash with the president-elect on the day the new Congress was sworn in. Emboldened Republican leaders are due to lay out an ambitious conservative agenda that includes cutting taxes, slashing regulations and repealing outgoing President Barack Obama’s health care law. The shift in presidential power will lift what has been a large White House road block against Republican action in Congress. But as the new era dawned, it was Republicans who drew Trump’s ire for seeking late Monday – without participation by Democrats – to hobble an independent ethics office which has investigated corruption allegations against members of Congress. The move, severely criticised by Democrats and some Republicans as undermining transparency, was part of a rules package that the House was to vote on Tuesday. Republicans scrapped the rules change after Trump took to Twitter Tuesday to publicly rebuke the strategy.

Confirmation hearings

Tuesday saw Vice President Joe Biden swear in seven new members of the 100-seat Senate. Some 52 new members of the 435-seat House of Representatives also took their oath of office. An early goal of congressional Republicans will be the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature if controversial domestic achievement that has helped 20m people gain health insurance. The issue is stirring heated debate in Washington. Obama will visit Capitol Hill Wednesday to huddle with Democrats about how to defend his health care law from repeal, while Vice President-elect Mike Pence is scheduled to meet with Republican lawmakers on the same day to discuss plans to dismantle Obamacare. Another early task awaits: Senate confirmation of some 20 cabinet-level appointments nominated by Trump as he fleshes out his administration. Senate hearings are expected to begin in the coming weeks. Some nominees are expected to sail through, notably respected retired general James Mattis, who was picked by Trump to head the Pentagon.

Political sparring

Beyond Obamacare, Republicans have been chomping at the bit for years to do away with several Obama-era regulations, including environmental and corporate restrictions, and to launch a tax overhaul. Democrats will likely oppose the most prominent of the proposals, but Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi extended an olive branch to Ryan.