Should Congress require the president to get approval before continuing military operations against Iran beyond 60 days?

Background

The War Powers Resolution, enacted by Congress in 1973, requires the president to obtain congressional authorization within 60 days of committing U.S. forces to hostilities abroad or else terminate military operations. On February 28, 2026, the Trump administration launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran without prior congressional approval, and the 60-day deadline arrived on May 1, 2026. Rather than seeking a formal authorization for use of military force, the administration has argued that a ceasefire beginning in early April effectively paused or ended the clock. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators that the ceasefire means the 60-day timeline pauses or stops, and a senior administration official stated that for the purposes of the law, hostilities have been terminated. Democrats in Congress have forced six Senate votes on war powers resolutions to constrain the president's authority, and Senate Republicans have blocked each one, though the most recent vote of 47 to 50 saw Republican Senator Susan Collins cross party lines for the first time.

Supporters of requiring congressional approval argue that the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to declare war and that the War Powers Resolution exists to ensure shared decision-making. Senator Collins stated that the 60-day deadline is not a suggestion but a requirement, and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she plans to introduce her own authorization for use of military force if the administration does not present a clear plan. Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah has written that he would not support ongoing military action beyond the 60-day window without congressional approval. On the other side, the administration and its allies contend the president has inherent constitutional authority as commander in chief to protect national security, that the ceasefire has stopped the legal clock, and that congressional interference could undermine sensitive negotiations. According to the Congressional Research Service, the 60-day period was never intended as a grant of authority to conduct hostilities but rather as a window for Congress to decide whether to authorize military action.

The stakes of this debate extend well beyond Iran. According to CBS News, Congress has never successfully used the War Powers Resolution to end a military campaign, and the courts have largely avoided ruling on these disputes. If the administration's interpretation that a ceasefire resets the legal clock prevails without challenge, it could set a precedent that weakens congressional oversight of future military engagements. Meanwhile, the conflict has already produced significant human costs, an ongoing naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets, and the Pentagon has reportedly requested substantial additional funding. How Congress and the administration resolve this standoff will shape the balance of war powers between the two branches of government for years to come, affecting not just U.S. policy toward Iran but the fundamental question of who decides when and how America goes to war.