Despite senior officials of the Trump administration claiming that "hostilities have ended," the U.S. blockade targeting the Strait of Hormuz has not ceased, with the U.S. Defense Secretary even asserting that Congressional authorization is unnecessary to continue the operation...
Currently, the debate over the legal authorization concerning the Iran conflict is intensifying within the U.S. government. According to CCTV News, on April 30 local time, a senior U.S. government official who wished to remain anonymous stated that, under the War Powers Resolution, 'the hostilities that began on February 28 have concluded.'
The official noted that the two-week ceasefire reached between the U.S. and Iran on April 7 has been extended, and 'since April 7, there have been no clashes between U.S. troops and Iran.'
These remarks come less than a month before the May 1 deadline of 60 days. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, unless formally declared by Congress or authorized, the President must gradually cease the use of force within 60 days of deploying troops into a conflict, with an additional 30-day grace period allowed for withdrawal. On February 28, the U.S. and Israel began their attacks on Iran, and by Friday, it had been exactly 60 days since Trump notified Congress of the military operation.
On April 8, under Pakistan's mediation, both sides announced a ceasefire and subsequently held talks in Islamabad but failed to reach an agreement. At Pakistan’s request, Trump later unilaterally extended the ceasefire without setting a new deadline. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to enforce a blockade on Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil shipments pass.
Some Republican lawmakers defect to challenge presidential authority
As the conflict nears its third month, oil prices continue to rise amid growing uncertainty, mounting increasing pressure on the Trump administration. A small group of Republican lawmakers have begun directly challenging the President's authority to continue advancing this increasingly unpopular conflict.
Utah’s freshman Republican Senator John Curtis called on lawmakers Thursday to invoke the War Powers Resolution. He said: 'With the 60-day deadline approaching, it is time for both the administration and Congress to make decisions.' He also mentioned engaging in 'in-depth discussions' with Senate colleagues and the White House to find a way forward that 'respects each branch’s constitutional roles.'
Curtis emphasized that Trump's authority as Commander-in-Chief 'is by no means unlimited,' pointing out that 'the Constitution grants Congress a central role in determining matters of war and peace, while the War Powers Resolution draws a clear 60-day red line, requiring Congress to either formally authorize or terminate U.S. involvement in overseas hostilities.'
On the same day, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul and Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins also broke party lines, joining nearly all Democratic Senators except one to vote in favor of a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iran conflict. The bill ultimately failed to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate. Curtis voted against the resolution but still expressed significant concerns about presidential authority.
Defense Secretary claims war has already paused
However, U.S. Defense Secretary Hergeses presented the core argument of the administration to senators on Thursday: the government does not need congressional authorization to continue the conflict because the ceasefire agreement has paused the 60-day countdown. He told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “On the issue of Iran, ultimately I will defer to the White House and its legal counsel. But for now, we are in a state of ceasefire, and by our understanding, this means that the 60-day clock has been suspended or stopped during the ceasefire.”
This position has faced strong questioning from Democratic senators. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters that the administration appears determined to 'both violate the law and recklessly push past the 60-day red line in an extremely unwise manner.'
The White House, while defending presidential authority, criticized those raising objections. According to foreign media reports, a White House official revealed that the administration is “engaging in active dialogue with Capitol Hill on this topic,” but noted that “some lawmakers are attempting to seize political capital by overstepping the authority of the commander-in-chief, which would only weaken the operational capabilities of U.S. forces overseas—something no elected official should do.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “Even before the launch of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump had maintained full transparency with Capitol Hill. Administration officials have provided more than 30 briefings to bipartisan members of Congress to ensure they remain updated on the latest military developments.” She added, “The president’s preferred approach has always been diplomatic, and Iran also wishes to strike a deal.”
Despite some dissenting voices, the vast majority of Republican lawmakers remain reluctant to openly challenge President Trump’s statutory authority. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters that he needed further 'analysis' of the legal provisions regarding the 60-day deadline but at this stage “would not contradict Hergeses’ view.” Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott made his stance clear: “The president has the authority to deploy the military to defend the freedom of this nation.”
Editor/Jeffy