WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is asserting that the war in Iran has concluded due to a ceasefire that commenced in early April. This interpretation could enable the White House to bypass the need for congressional approval for military actions.
The statement aligns with comments made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during Senate testimony on Thursday, where he claimed that the ceasefire effectively paused hostilities. This rationale suggests that the administration has not yet met the requirements of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which mandates that the president seek formal approval from Congress for military action that extends beyond 60 days.
A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated.” This official noted that there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. military forces and Iran since the two-week ceasefire began on April 7.
Despite the ceasefire extension, Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade aimed at preventing Iran’s oil tankers from departing for international waters.
Under the War Powers Resolution, which seeks to limit presidential military authority, President Donald Trump was required to either seek congressional authorization or cease military operations by Friday. The law does allow for a 30-day extension under certain conditions.
Democratic lawmakers have pushed for formal congressional approval regarding military operations in Iran. The 60-day deadline was anticipated to be a pivotal moment for several Republican legislators who supported temporary actions against Iran but insisted on congressional oversight for prolonged military engagements.
“That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” stated Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who voted in favor of a measure to halt military actions in Iran due to the lack of congressional approval. Collins emphasized that “further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close.”
Richard Goldberg, former director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction during Trump’s first term, has recommended that the administration transition to a new military operation, potentially named “Epic Passage,” as a follow-up to Operation Epic Fury. This new operation would focus on self-defense while aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reserving the right to take offensive action to protect navigation freedoms.
Goldberg noted, “That to me solves it all,” reflecting his current role as a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a prominent think tank known for its hawkish stance on security issues.
During his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth expressed the administration’s belief that the 60-day timeline was effectively paused while the ceasefire was in place. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who challenged Hegseth on this issue, remarked that the defense secretary presented a “very novel argument” that lacks legal support.
Katherine Yon Ebright, counsel at the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program and an expert on war powers, criticized the administration’s interpretation as a significant overreach of the legal framework established by the War Powers Resolution. She stated, “To be very, very clear and unambiguous, nothing in the text or design of the War Powers Resolution suggests that the 60-day clock can be paused or terminated.”
While previous administrations have claimed that certain military actions did not trigger the War Powers Resolution due to their limited scope, Ebright contends that the ongoing conflict with Iran does not fall under such an argument and that lawmakers must hold the administration accountable for its legal interpretations.
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AP writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
