A senior Trump administration official declared Thursday that the military engagement with Iran is effectively over under the War Powers Resolution, arguing that a ceasefire agreement halts the 60-day clock that began when Congress was notified of hostilities on May 2. The official told NewsNation that President Trump's April 7 announcement of a temporary truce marks the end of active operations, meaning the conflict is now considered terminated for legal purposes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced that stance during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, telling Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that the ceasefire pauses or stops the 60-day timeline. “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said. The senator pushed back, questioning whether the War Powers Act—which permits the president to deploy forces for up to 60 days without congressional approval in cases of imminent threat—supports that interpretation.
The clock began ticking on May 2 when the administration formally notified Congress of the conflict. Under the law, the president can also request a 30-day extension to safely withdraw troops. The administration’s position effectively sidesteps the need for congressional authorization, but that claim has drawn skepticism from both sides of the aisle.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told NBC News on Thursday that the United States is “not at war” with Iran. “I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace,” Johnson said. He added that he would be cautious about challenging the administration during sensitive negotiations, saying, “I would be very reluctant to get in front of the administration in the midst of these very sensitive negotiations, so we’ll have to see how that plays out.”
Not all Republicans are on board with the administration’s timeline. Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Rand Paul (Ky.) crossed party lines to join Democrats in a failed bid to force a troop withdrawal from the Middle East. The resolution was defeated by three votes, including a defection from Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.). Collins later emphasized that Trump’s military powers are “not without limits,” stating, “The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace, and the War Powers Act establishes a clear 60-day deadline for Congress to either authorize or end U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities. That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement.”
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who voted against the war powers resolution, said he would not support additional funding for the conflict unless Congress is consulted. “This is not an adversarial stance against the Administration; rather, it is a commitment to our system of government,” Curtis wrote. “It is critical to our national security that Iran’s malign capabilities are neutralized, but it is equally critical that we do so on a sound constitutional footing.”
The standoff echoes broader tensions over executive war powers, with the administration’s approach reminiscent of its retribution campaign that mixed targeted strikes with political blowback. Critics argue that declaring the conflict over before the deadline sets a dangerous precedent, while supporters say the ceasefire justifies the move. Meanwhile, the looming deadline has intensified scrutiny of the administration's legal reasoning, as lawmakers weigh next steps.
The administration has also faced accusations of seditious coverage from media outlets, further polarizing the debate. As the 60-day mark passes, the constitutional battle over war powers shows no signs of easing, with both parties grappling over the limits of executive authority in an era of persistent conflict.
