In a move that redefines the limits of executive authority, President Donald Trump informed congressional leaders on Friday that the 60-day legal deadline to seek authorization for the conflict in Iran no longer applies. In a formal letter to the Hill, the President argued that because a fragile ceasefire has held since early April, active “hostilities” have effectively ended—making any formal vote by Congress unnecessary.
The “Ceasefire Loophole”
The letter arrived as the administration hit a critical May 1 deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires a president to withdraw troops from a conflict within 60 days unless Congress declares war or provides a specific authorization.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump wrote to House and Senate leadership. He noted that there has been “no exchange of fire” between U.S. forces and Iran since the initial two-week truce began on April 7. By declaring the war “terminated” for legal purposes, the White House is effectively attempting to reset the 60-day clock, even as a massive U.S. naval presence remains in the region.
“Totally Unconstitutional”
Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn before departing for Florida, the President dismissed the War Powers Act as a relic. He labeled the law “totally unconstitutional” and claimed that seeking such approval “has never been sought before” by his predecessors—a statement that drew immediate rebuffs from constitutional scholars and historians.
“Nobody has ever gotten it before… why should we be different?” Trump asked, signaling that the administration has no intention of submitting a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to the floor.
A “Novel” Legal Theory
The administration’s stance was previewed during a tense Senate hearing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who argued that the 60-day clock “pauses or stops” during a ceasefire. This interpretation has been met with skepticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who argue the law focuses on the deployment of forces into hostile environments regardless of whether a temporary truce is in place.
While many in the GOP have deferred to the President’s judgment, some have broken ranks. Critics argue that the deadline is an absolute requirement intended to ensure the American people, through their representatives, have a say in prolonged military engagements.
Negotiations at an Impasse
The legal maneuvering comes at a delicate moment for global security. While the U.S. has extended the ceasefire, Trump told reporters he is “not satisfied” with the latest peace proposal delivered via international mediators.
With the U.S. Navy continuing its blockade and Iran maintaining its stance in the Strait of Hormuz, the declaration that hostilities have “terminated” strikes many on Capitol Hill as a legal fiction. For now, the administration appears determined to bypass the legislative branch, leaving the future of the conflict and the law meant to restrain it in a state of high-stakes uncertainty.