WASHINGTON, D.C.: Pushing an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid seeking congressional approval, the Trump administration has argued that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April.
Donald Trump’s statement supports an argument made earlier by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. During a Senate hearing, Hegseth said the ceasefire had basically paused the war. Based on this idea, the administration believes it does not yet need to comply with a 1973 law requiring congressional approval for military action lasting more than 60 days.
A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, said that, for purposes of the law, the fighting that began on February 28 had ended. The official added that there had been no fighting between the U.S. military and Iran since the ceasefire began on April 7.
Even though the ceasefire has been extended, Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. Navy is blocking Iranian oil tankers from leaving.
Under the War Powers Resolution, which limits a president’s military powers, Trump had until May 1 to get approval from Congress or stop military action. The law also allows a 30-day extension.
Democrats have been pushing the administration to get formal approval for the conflict with Iran. The 60-day deadline could have been important to some Republican lawmakers who supported short-term action but wanted Congress to be involved if it continued beyond 60 days.
Senator Susan Collins said the deadline was mandatory, not optional. She supported a measure to stop military action in Iran because Congress had not approved it. She also said any further military action should have a clear purpose, realistic goals, and a plan to end the conflict.
Richard Goldberg, who worked on countering Iranian weapons during Trump’s first term, said he advised the administration to start a new mission, possibly called “Epic Passage,” as a follow-up to Operation Epic Fury. He explained that this new mission would focus on self-defense, reopening the strait, and, if needed, allowing offensive action to restore free navigation. He added that this approach would solve the issue.
Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said the administration believed the 60-day timeline was paused during the ceasefire. Senator Tim Kaine responded that Hegseth had presented a new argument that he had never heard before and said it had no legal basis.
Katherine Yon Ebright from the Brennan Center said this interpretation would be a major stretch of how the law has been used before. She made it clear that nothing in the law suggests the 60-day limit can be paused or ended.
She also noted that while some presidents have argued their military actions were too limited to fall under the law, Trump’s conflict with Iran does not fit that situation. She said lawmakers should challenge the administration’s argument.
