Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that President Donald Trump retains the authority to order new military strikes against Iran without seeking congressional approval. The assertion, made during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, has raised questions from lawmakers who point out the administration has already exceeded a critical 60-day deadline under federal law.
Pete Hegseth makes bold claims about Donald Trump
Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee primarily to discuss the administration’s nearly $1.5 trillion budget request for the 2027 fiscal year. However, the ongoing war with Iran dominated the proceedings. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president must obtain congressional authorization for the use of military force if hostilities extend beyond 60 days. That deadline passed in early May, yet the administration has not sought such approval, arguing that combat operations had ceased.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, challenged Hegseth on this interpretation. She asked whether securing a formal Authorisation for Use of Military Force from Congress would be helpful to the president. Hegseth declined the suggestion. “Our view is that he has all the authorities he needs under Article 2,” he said, referencing the section of the US Constitution that defines executive powers.
Murkowski then pointed out the administration’s legal stance. “The war powers resolution is pretty clear here; it requires the president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization,” she said. “It doesn’t appear that hostilities have ended.” Her callout reflects a larger concern on Capitol Hill that the White House is sidestepping legislative oversight through a narrow reading of the statute.
Hegseth, however, was unequivocal about Trump’s position should the fragile ceasefire collapse. “Should the president make the decision to recommence, we would have all of the authorities necessary to do so,” he told the committee. The statement reinforces the administration’s long-held view that the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional and that Article 2 grants the commander-in-chief independent authority to direct military operations. The Iran war, now in its third month, has already inflicted measurable economic damage. (Source: CNBC)
Originally written by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
