US Congress Divided Over Whether War with Iran Triggers 60-Day Limit of the War Powers Resolution

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

In response, Senator Adam Schiff stated that a ceasefire does not pause the clock and argued that since the war did not face an imminent threat at its onset, 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 credible plan next week, they will introduce an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) proposal to fulfill Congress's constitutional oversight responsibilities. At present, there remains uncertainty over whether President Trump will seek an additional 30-day extension permitted under the Act. (CNN)