US Congress Divided Over Whether Iran Conflict Triggers 60-Day Deadline of War Powers Act

According to the U.S. War Powers Act of 1973, the President must terminate the use of armed forces within a 60-day deadline after initiating military action without congressional authorization. Currently, some lawmakers argue that May 1 marks the expiration of this deadline, citing President Trump's notification to Congress on March 2 regarding the commencement of hostilities. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the current ceasefire status means the 60-day clock has been paused or stopped.

In response, Senator Adam Schiff argued that a ceasefire does not pause the clock, and believes that since the war did not face an imminent threat at its outset, the military action was illegal from the start. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers, such as Lisa Murkowski, indicated that if the White House fails to present a viable plan by next week, they will introduce an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) proposal to fulfill Congress's oversight duties under the Constitution. At present, uncertainty remains over whether President Trump will seek the additional 30-day extension allowed by the Act. (CNN)