May 1, 2026, 9:25 a.mMay 1, 2026, 9:25 a.m
According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the US government can continue the war against Iran for weeks without congressional approval. “We are currently in a ceasefire, which, as we understand it, means that the 60-day period (…) is paused or stopped,” he told a Senate committee.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine had confronted Hegseth about the expiry of a deadline in the coming days during which a president can wage war without parliamentary consent. Hegseth did not respond to the question of whether Donald Trump would ask for a 30-day extension.
There is nothing in the law about a break
The background is the War Powers Resolution law from 1973, which limits military operations to a maximum of 60 days without congressional approval. If a president also wants to command combat operations by the US military, the formal consent of Parliament is required. This is intended to prevent the USA from being drawn into lengthy, illegitimate operations. There is nothing in the law about pausing the deadline in the event of a ceasefire.
At the end of the 60 days, Trump would theoretically be forced to withdraw US troops gradually. This would also apply to the naval forces and ships that are currently maintaining the US blockade of Iranian ports despite the ceasefire.
It is not clear when exactly this deadline expires in the current case. Trump briefed Parliament on March 2 after the war began on February 28. Depending on the calculation, the 60 days mentioned in the legal text could end on the night of April 30th to May 1st or on the night of May 1st to 2nd (00:00 a.m. local time, 6:00 a.m. in Switzerland). (sda/dpa)