Hegseth says War Powers deadline doesn't apply because of ceasefire with Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress on Thursday that the ceasefire with Iran does not count toward the 60-day requirement by the War Powers Resolution that the president must either inform Congress it needs an additional 30 days to wind down combat operations in Iran, or begin bringing forces home.Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine invoked the resolution in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing and asked Hegseth what the administration planned to do with the 60-day deadline that falls on Friday."We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire," the secretary responded.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's FY2027 budget request for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 30, 2026.Ken Cedeno/ReutersKaine was dubious that the statute would support Hegseth's claim."It's going to pose a really important legal question for the administration ... we have serious constitutional concerns and we don't want to layer those with additional statutory concerns," he said.Later Kaine told reporters that "I have grave concern, based on that answer, that the White House does not intend to honor the 60 days."Democratic Sen. Elizabeth