Friday marks a critical deadline in the ongoing U.S. military engagement with Iran: 60 days since President Trump formally notified Congress of operations there. The milestone brings the War Powers Act into sharp focus, as the law allows the president to deploy forces without congressional authorization for up to 60 days in cases of an “imminent threat.”
Democrats and some Republicans have warned that exceeding this window without explicit approval could be unconstitutional. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued before a Senate panel Thursday that the clock effectively stopped when the U.S. and Iran entered a temporary ceasefire—a truce that has held for weeks. The administration’s interpretation is likely to face legal and political challenges.
Meanwhile, the House passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, ending a 10-week partial shutdown. Trump signed it later Thursday, but the measure notably excludes funding for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement—two agencies central to his immigration enforcement agenda. The move leaves key border security functions in limbo.
In Maine, Governor Janet Mills’ decision to exit the state’s Senate race has sent ripples through Democratic circles. Some senators are questioning Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recruiting strategy ahead of the midterms. Democrats are now rallying behind Graham Platner, but the shake-up highlights broader concerns about the party’s electoral positioning.
The president is heading to Florida on Friday for a seniors event and a dinner in West Palm Beach. Both chambers of Congress are out of session.
For more on the administration’s approach to the Iran conflict, see the ongoing debate over war powers. On the domestic front, the partial DHS funding bill is part of a larger pattern of Trump’s retribution campaign, as detailed in our analysis of smart strikes and costly missteps.
As the midterms approach, the intersection of foreign policy and domestic funding battles will remain a central fault line. Follow live updates throughout the day.
