Senate War Powers Vote Fails Again as Hegseth Claims Iran Conflict Clock Is Paused

The Trump administration is once again pushing the limits of executive war powers, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling the Senate Armed Services Committee that the 60-day limit set by the 1973 War Powers Resolution does not currently apply to U.S. military actions in Iran. This claim comes just one day before the critical deadline expires.

Hegseth pointed to the ceasefire President Trump announced on April 7, and has since extended, as justification for pausing the War Powers clock. “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said when pressed by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. However, Kaine dismissed this interpretation, calling Friday’s deadline “a really important legal question for the administration.”

The War Powers Resolution requires that any military hostilities without congressional authorization must end within 60 days of notification. Trump notified Congress on March 2 after ordering strikes on Iran on February 28, setting the countdown clock ticking toward Friday.

Despite repeated attempts by Senate Democrats to force votes limiting Trump’s unilateral military actions, the Republican majority has consistently blocked these measures. The latest vote failed again on Thursday, though Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) broke ranks to support the effort, emphasizing Congress’s constitutional role in decisions of war and peace.

“As I have said since these hostilities with Iran began, the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief is not without limits,” Collins wrote on social media. “The War Powers Act establishes a clear 60-day deadline for Congress to either authorize or end U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities. That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement.”

Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff condemned the ongoing conflict, highlighting the human and financial costs. “After two months of war, thirteen service members’ lives lost, and billions of dollars squandered, it is time we recognized that the price we have paid is already too high,” Schiff said. “We must say no to this unauthorized war of choice.”

This standoff reflects a broader pattern under the Trump administration of circumventing Congress on military matters. From strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump has repeatedly acted without explicit congressional approval, raising urgent questions about accountability and constitutional limits.

While the War Powers Resolution allows the president to extend the 60-day period by 30 days if Congress is notified in writing, Hegseth declined to say whether such notification would be forthcoming.

As the Iran conflict enters a critical phase, Congress remains sidelined, and the administration’s interpretation of war powers continues to stretch legal boundaries—putting democratic checks and balances at risk.