President Donald Trump notified Congress on Friday that he will not seek authorization for military operations against Iran, arguing that an active ceasefire eliminates the legal requirement to do so. The move sidesteps a federal threshold that typically forces presidents to seek approval after 60 days of sustained conflict.
In letters sent to both chambers, Trump detailed the timeline of his decision. He ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, 2026, which has since been extended. "There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated," he wrote.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires presidents to notify Congress of military engagements and seek formal authorization once a conflict reaches the 60-day mark. This week marks the moment when that threshold would be triggered, as the initial strikes on Iran began February 28, with congressional notification coming March 2. Trump's administration has used the ceasefire's existence as the legal justification for bypassing the authorization requirement.
Speaking to reporters as he departed for Florida on Friday, Trump dismissed the entire premise of seeking congressional approval. "It's never been sought before," he said, pointing to precedent. "There's been numerous, many, many times, and nobody's ever gotten it before. They consider it totally unconstitutional."
Trump's position reflects a historical pattern. Former President Barack Obama in 2011 avoided seeking authorization for military operations in Libya, with his administration arguing that the scope of action did not constitute sustained combat requiring approval. However, both George W. Bush in 2001 and 2002 and George H.W. Bush in 1991 sought and obtained congressional authorization for Middle Eastern conflicts. Congress repealed both of those earlier authorizations last year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the White House position on Thursday, telling reporters that Congress need not formally act because "we're not at war." Johnson characterized the current situation as an attempt to "broker a peace" rather than conduct active military operations. He emphasized there is no ongoing "kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also downplayed the 60-day requirement during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, suggesting the ceasefire effectively pauses the clock. "Our understanding is that in a ceasefire, the 60-day clock pauses or stops," Hegseth told lawmakers, though he deferred the ultimate legal question to White House counsel.
In his letters, Trump acknowledged that the threat from Iran remains substantial but pledged to keep congressional leaders informed of developments. He also reasserted his authority as Commander in Chief to direct military operations pursuant to constitutional powers over foreign affairs.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Trump's ceasefire gambit is legally clever but politically risky, and Congress appears content to let sleeping dogs lie rather than force a confrontation over war powers."
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