The Trump administration is testing the boundaries of the War Powers Act as the 60-day deadline for military operations against Iran approaches, with the Defense Secretary proposing an interpretation that could indefinitely extend the timeline.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the statutory clock can "pause or stop" during a ceasefire, a framing that drew cautious acceptance from Republican lawmakers but sharp pushback from Democrats.
The original strikes on Iran began February 28, putting the hard deadline in sight. Under the War Powers Act, the president must seek Congressional authorization or halt operations when 60 days expire. But Hegseth's testimony suggested flexibility in how that period is calculated, opening space for the administration to argue the clock isn't running.
Senator Todd Young of Indiana, who has previously entertained supporting a war powers resolution, appeared open to the Pentagon's logic. "It sounds like there's some wiggle room he provided there for himself," Young told reporters. He indicated Republicans would review any formal notification from the administration about how it interprets its legal obligations.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri predicted the administration would submit a written explanation of its War Powers position, possibly requesting a 30-day extension or arguing no additional time was needed based on specific circumstances.
Democrats rejected the ceasefire argument wholesale. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said a ceasefire doesn't erase hostilities if the U.S. military continues other operations. "If we're using the U.S. military to blockade everything going into and out of Iran, that's still hostility," Kaine said. He accused the administration of inventing a rationale to circumvent a law that exists precisely to limit executive war-making power.
The debate echoes disputes during the 2011 Libya intervention, when the Obama administration argued that providing intelligence and refueling allied aircraft did not constitute "hostilities" requiring Congressional approval. Republicans erupted in protest. "We're part of an effort to drop bombs on Qaddafi's compounds," then-Speaker John Boehner said. "It just doesn't pass the straight-face test that we're not in the midst of hostilities."
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said he has "not been too concerned" about the approaching deadline, suggesting the panel may not aggressively challenge the Pentagon's position.
Author James Rodriguez: "Every president tries this trick when the clock starts running, but at some point Congress either enforces the law or admits it doesn't matter."
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