A group of Republicans sounded off to the Wall Street Journal on Thursday after a Trump administration official hinted that they are considering avoiding Congress on yet another issue.
Under the War Powers Act, the president must notify Congress of a military action within 48 hours and withdraw the troops within 60 days. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a recent hearing that the Trump administration believes the clock for both of those countdowns stopped on the day that the administration agreed to a ceasefire with the Iranian regime, the Journal reported.
“While Trump halted airstrikes against Iran, the U.S. military continues to enforce a military blockade that prohibits ships from reaching or leaving Iranian ports. A blockade is considered an act of war under international law,” the report added.
Several Republicans criticize Hegseth’s interpretation in interviews with the Journal.
“It stopped from the cease-fire? Which cease-fire? Does the cease-fire still count if they don’t cease firing?” Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) told the WSJ. “I don’t know. Is there any legal precedent to this? I mean, these are the sorts of questions members would ask.”
Sen. Josh Hawley echoed Young’s argument that the administration needs to make a formal case to Congress.
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) said he won’t support spending additional funding on the war in Iran without Congressional approval.
“As we reach this 60-day mark, it is time for decision-making from both the administration and from Congress—and that can happen in league with one another, not in conflict,” Curtis said.
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