Trump Administration Claims Iran War 'Terminated' to Avoid Congressional Approval Deadline

May 2, 2026

As the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline arrived on Friday, President Donald Trump refused to seek congressional authorization for the Iran war, calling the requirement "totally unconstitutional" and arguing that the April 7 ceasefire has "terminated" hostilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the administration believes the 60-day clock pauses during the ceasefire, though the 1973 law provides no such mechanism and Senator Susan Collins emphasized the deadline is a requirement, not a suggestion. Despite the ceasefire extended indefinitely last week, both the U.S. Navy's blockade of Iranian ports and Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz continue, creating a stalemate in peace negotiations. Trump confirmed receiving a Central Command briefing proposing resumed strikes against Iran to push negotiations forward, while rejecting Iran's latest peace proposal sent through Pakistani mediators.

Trump Administration's War Powers Resolution Dispute

▪Donald Trump signaled on Friday that he will not seek a congressional vote on the Iran war, arguing that the 60-day clock is "totally unconstitutional."
▪The War Powers law provides no mechanism for pausing the 60-day time limit when a truce is in place.
▪The 1973 War Powers Resolution gives the U.S. president 60 days from when Congress first received formal notice of the conflict to terminate offensive operations or have Congress either declare war or authorize the continued use of military force.
▪Friday marked the 60-day deadline for U.S. President Donald Trump to end the fighting in Iran under the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
▪U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the Trump administration believes the 60-day clock pauses or stops during the U.S.-Iran cease-fire.
▪The U.S.-Iran cease-fire went into effect on April 7 and was extended indefinitely last week.

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Perspective of Trump Administration

▪The Trump administration considers the 60-day War Powers Resolution deadline to be totally unconstitutional.
▪The Trump administration interprets the U.S.-Iran ceasefire as pausing or stopping the 60-day War Powers clock.

Perspective of Congressional War Powers advocates

▪Congressional War Powers advocates argue that the 1973 War Powers Resolution contains no legal mechanism for pausing the 60-day deadline during a truce.