WASHINTON: US President-elect Donald Trump today slammed his own Republican party's leadership for allegedly weakening an independent congressional ethics board following which House Republicans made a U-turn on the issue.
"With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it...may be, their number one act and priority," Trump tweeted.
"Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" said the President-elect in another tweet that slammed his own party leaders in the US Congress.
Notably the Republicans have majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Trump's angry tweet came moments after the House Republicans moved to weaken the outside ethics watchdog by moving an amendment in this regard.
However, following Trump's criticism, House Republicans reversed themselves and dropped plans to eviscerate the independent congressional ethics board.
The about-face came as lawmakers convened for the first day of the 115th Congress.
In damage-contro mode following severe criticism, Republican leaders called an emergency meeting of House Republicans where lawmakers voted to undo the change.
Earlier, their amendment had put the Independent Office of Congressional Ethics watchdog under the oversight of the lawmakers.
"With the amendment adopted last night, the bipartisan, evenly-divided House Ethics Committee will now have oversight of the complaints office. But the Office is not controlled by the Committee, and I expect that oversight authority to be exercised solely to ensure the Office is properly following its rules and laws, just as any government entity should," House Speaker Paul Ryan had said before the U-turn on the issue.
"I have made clear to the new Chair of the House Ethics Committee that it is not to interfere with the Office's investigations or prevent it from doing its job. All members of Congress are required to earn the public's trust every single day, and this House will hold members accountable to the people," he said.
Ryan said after eight years of operation, many members believe the Office of Congressional Ethics is in need of reform to protect due process and ensure it is operating according to its stated mission.
The Democratic leadership had also expressed its disappointment over the Republican party's decision.
"I am deeply concerned by House Republicans' decision in the dead of night to strip away the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics," said House Democratic Whip, Steny H Hoyer.
Several top organisations in a letter to Ryan and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, expressed their concern over their move.