U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the U.S. administration could continue the war against Iran for weeks without obtaining congressional approval, arguing that the ceasefire agreement had suspended that deadline.
Many lawmakers believe congressional approval is required after 60 days of U.S. troop deployment in the region and the outbreak of war with Iran.
Hegseth told a Senate committee: "We are currently in a ceasefire situation, and our understanding is that the 60-day clock is temporarily paused or ends with the ceasefire."
The 1973 War Powers Act, passed after the disastrous U.S. experience in the Vietnam War, does not contain any provision regarding suspending the deadline in the event of a ceasefire. The law limits military deployment without congressional approval to a maximum of 60 days.
Most U.S. media outlets indicate that the 60-day period ends on Friday, as Trump notified Congress on March 2 after the war began on February 28.
However, depending on how it is calculated, the 60 days referenced in the text of the law may expire by midnight on May 1 or midnight on May 2.
