Republicans move to stop all new legislation until Barack Obama leaves White House

‘Welcome to the dawn of a new unified Republican government,’ said Paul Ryan, who was re-elected for another term as house speaker

Mr Ryan said he would work 'hand in glove' with Donald Trump (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

Republican leaders have acted to halt any new legislation in the last two months of president Barack Obama’s term as they scramble to appoint a government team and implement their core campaign promises.

Speaking to reporters, house majority leader Kevin McCarthy said he had sent a letter to all government agencies requesting that they act to halt any new legislation in Congress before 20 January.

"What a difference a week makes," he said.

On the same day that house speaker Paul Ryan was re-elected, he insisted that he and the president-elect were on the same page and would work "hand in glove" to help his transition into the Oval Office.

"Welcome to the dawn of a new unified Republican government," he said. "We have to go bold and we have to go big."

Mr Ryan added that Mr Trump would be judged by the results of his administration.

Mr Trump has already been criticised for making Breitbart News executive chairman Stephen Bannon his chief strategist, a man who was accused of being a white supremacist and making anti-Semitic comments, and appointing Republican National Committee chair Reince Preibus as chief of staff.

"Donald Trump is a multi-billionaire, a successful businessman because he has surrounded himself with successful people," said Mr Ryan. "What's wrong with that? That’s a good thing.

"I’m looking to the future and how we make this work for the American people, how to make president Trump the most successful president of our lifetimes."

Mr Ryan said he had been speaking with the president-elect every day as well as engaging in regular conversations with governor Mike Pence, the appointed vice president.

Representative and majority whip Steve Scalise held up a red Trump campaign baseball hat at the press conference and said: “This is not just a great slogan, it also says “made in the USA” [on the label].”

The party leaders promised that by removing "uncertainty" from the financial markets and investing in the private sector, they would put people back to work and kickstart the economy.

"Better days lie ahead for our country," promised Mr Ryan.