NextFin News - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate panel on Thursday that the 60-day legal deadline for the Trump administration to seek congressional approval for the war with Iran has been "paused" due to an active ceasefire. The assertion sets the stage for a constitutional showdown as the 60-day window mandated by the 1973 War Powers Resolution is set to expire this Friday, May 1. Under the statute, U.S. President Trump is required to terminate the use of armed forces within 60 days of notifying Congress—a notification filed on March 2 following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes—unless lawmakers grant a formal extension or declare war.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran known for his staunch "America First" defense posture, argued that because hostilities effectively ceased in early April, the statutory clock is no longer running. "We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops," Hegseth stated during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. This interpretation is highly controversial and does not represent a consensus among legal scholars or the broader Washington establishment. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine immediately challenged the claim, noting that the statute makes no provision for a "pause" and that the administration faces a critical legal cliff as of Friday.
The financial markets have remained on edge as the diplomatic and legal stalemate continues. While a ceasefire has held since April 7, the critical Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, choking global energy supplies. Brent crude oil was trading near $105 per barrel on Friday, according to market data, reflecting a significant risk premium as the prospect of renewed hostilities looms. Spot gold prices have similarly surged, reaching $4,624 per ounce as investors seek safe-haven assets amid the uncertainty of an undeclared and potentially unauthorized war.
The administration’s stance appears to be a strategic maneuver to bypass a divided Congress. While many Republicans, such as Representative Carlos Gimenez, have voiced support for the Pentagon’s efforts to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat, the Democratic-led efforts to constrain U.S. President Trump have created a legislative bottleneck. A senior administration official emphasized that for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution, the specific hostilities that began in late February have "terminated," even if a permanent peace treaty remains elusive. This distinction allows the White House to maintain a military presence in the region without the immediate political cost of a formal war vote.
Critics argue that the "pause" theory is a dangerous precedent that could effectively nullify the War Powers Resolution. If an administration can unilaterally declare a pause to reset or stop the clock, the 60-day limit becomes meaningless. Beyond the legal debate, the economic toll is mounting. Pentagon officials revealed this week that operations in Iran have already cost the U.S. approximately $25 billion. With the administration requesting a $1.5 trillion defense budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the fiscal sustainability of a prolonged, unauthorized conflict is becoming a central theme of congressional scrutiny.
The situation remains fluid as the Friday deadline passes. While the White House maintains that the lack of active fire since April 7 satisfies the law, the continued closure of the world's most vital oil artery suggests that the "termination" of hostilities is more technical than actual. Without a formal deal or congressional authorization, the U.S. military remains in a legal gray zone that could be challenged in federal court or through further legislative maneuvers to defund the operation.
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