Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified Thursday that the 60-day legal deadline for U.S. military operations in Iran effectively stopped when President Trump announced a ceasefire, setting up a fresh clash with Democrats who are forcing another war powers vote on Capitol Hill.
Trump notified Congress of the Iran campaign on March 2, which would make Friday the 60-day mark under the War Powers Resolution—the point at which the president must begin withdrawing forces unless lawmakers grant explicit authorization. But Hegseth argued the clock stopped when the U.S. halted bombing on April 7.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth told Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Kaine immediately pushed back: “I do not believe the statute would support that. I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and it’s going to pose a really important legal question for the administration there.”
The U.S. military remains on a war footing across the Middle East, with tens of thousands of troops deployed and daily costs running into the tens of millions. This ongoing posture has fueled Democratic efforts to rein in the president’s authority. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday they would force another vote on a war powers resolution aimed at curbing further unilateral action.
“Donald Trump and his administration are endangering the lives of servicemembers and spending billions on an illegal war that is not supported by the majority of Americans,” Schumer said in a statement. This marks the sixth such attempt since the campaign began on Feb. 28, with Republicans blocking each previous measure.
But some GOP senators have signaled they could break ranks if the conflict drags past 60 days. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said at a recent summit, “I have said from the very beginning that if the military hostilities in Iran continue to that 60th day, then I believe the War Powers Act is implemented, and the president would need congressional authorization to continue the war in Iran.” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told NBC News it would be “difficult” to support continuing beyond the deadline because he is “not quite clear what the strategic objectives are.”
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating hostilities and bars forces from staying longer than 60 days without approval, with a possible 30-day extension for safe withdrawal. Trump initially announced a two-week truce on April 8, then extended it indefinitely just before it expired on April 21.
Negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities have stalled. Iran has resisted discussing its nuclear program and refuses to commit to further direct talks with U.S. representatives. Trump has insisted Tehran must give up its nuclear enrichment capabilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning he is not under pressure to make a deal.
The administration’s legal interpretation is likely to face intense scrutiny, especially as the 60-day mark approaches. Hegseth faced tough questions on the war’s costs and the Pentagon’s recent firings during the same hearing. Meanwhile, House panels are also pressing the administration on the $1.5 trillion defense budget and the conflict’s trajectory.
