Pentagon Claims Iran Ceasefire Pauses War Powers Clock, Igniting Legal Firestorm

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked a fierce debate on Capitol Hill by claiming that the fragile ceasefire with Iran effectively “stops” the 60-day clock set by the War Powers Resolution, freeing President Donald Trump from the legal requirement to seek congressional consent to extend military action.

Speaking during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Hegseth argued that the pause in hostilities means the president does not have to end military operations or get Congress’s approval after 60 days. “We are in a ceasefire right now, which [in] our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses, or stops,” Hegseth told Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA).

Kaine, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee, immediately pushed back, stating flatly, “I do not believe the statute would support that.” He warned of “serious constitutional concerns” if the administration tries to stretch the law’s meaning to fit ongoing military engagement without congressional authorization.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973, designed to rein in presidents’ unilateral military actions, requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of hostilities and mandates that military action must end within 60 days unless Congress approves an extension. The law makes no exception for ceasefires or pauses in fighting.

Friday marked the 60-day threshold since the Trump administration notified Congress of strikes on Iran. The law allows a 30-day extension if requested, but it remains unclear if the White House will seek one.

A White House official told Military Times that talks with lawmakers are “active” but warned that efforts to “score political points by usurping the commander-in-chief’s authority would only undermine the United States military abroad.” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly emphasized the administration’s transparency and claimed President Trump prefers diplomacy, noting Iran “wants to make a deal.”

Hegseth’s testimony came amid escalating tensions over the U.S. campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. He accused congressional critics of being “reckless naysayers” undermining military success and praised Trump’s “courage” in confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The hearing quickly grew contentious. A protester interrupted, labeling Hegseth a “war criminal,” before being removed. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the committee’s top Democrat, sharply criticized Hegseth’s rosy assessment, calling it “dangerously exaggerated.” Reed highlighted that Iran’s regime remains intact with a viable nuclear program and substantial military capabilities, warning that military force without a clear strategy risks long-term defeat.

Reed cautioned that Hegseth may be telling the president “what he wants to hear, instead of what he needs to hear,” underscoring the danger of unchecked executive power in foreign conflicts.

This dispute exposes the Trump administration’s ongoing willingness to stretch legal boundaries to justify military actions without meaningful congressional oversight, raising urgent questions about accountability, constitutional limits, and the future of U.S. engagement with Iran.