President Joe Biden won't veto a Republican-led measure making its way through the Senate that would strike down a newly passed law overhauling D.C.'s century-old criminal code and reduce the penalties for some crimes, he told Senate Democrats on Thursday.

The decision not to veto the legislation deals a major blow to local lawmakers in Washington, D.C., who urged congressional Democrats and Biden to vote against the measure in order to preserve the city's local autonomy. Biden told Senate Democrats of his decision during the party's weekly luncheon as the upper chamber prepares to vote on the measure as soon as next week.

The news came as a surprise to some D.C. lawmakers, as Biden had previously expressed opposition to the Republican measure to override the city's criminal code.

“This is news to me," said D.C. House Del. Eleanor Norton. "I’m very disappointed in it."

The Senate GOP is hoping to force a vote next week on the updated code, which softens the punishment for homicide, robberies, and carjackings, opening Democrats up to attacks of being soft on crime should they choose to oppose the GOP's repeal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is unable to block the measure despite Democrats controlling the upper chamber, making the vote a rare opportunity for the GOP to put senators in battleground states on record on the issue.

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The bill had earned support from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), all but guaranteeing its passage in the Senate, where Democrats have temporarily lost their outright majority with the absences of Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Both are currently out of office due to health problems.

This story is developing and will be updated.