The Donald Trump administration has argued that a key May 1 deadline it faces to secure congressional approval for the US-Israel war on Iran no longer matters because of the ongoing ceasefire with Tehran.Once the president notifies the United States Congress about a war, he has a 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution to get lawmakers to greenlight the campaign or withdraw forces involved in hostilities.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listIn the case of the war on Iran, that deadline expires on Friday.But on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers at a Senate hearing that the ongoing yet fragile ceasefire had effectively paused the clock on the deadline.However, Hegseth’s interpretation is being strongly contested. Democratic lawmakers and legal experts argue that the statute contains no provision allowing for a pause once the deadline has started.The disagreement reflects a deeper clash over how “hostilities” are defined, and whether a temporary ceasefire can alter legal obligations the White House is expected to adhere to.So what is the Trump administration’s position on the War Powers Resolution, and how are the opposition and legal experts challenging it?What has the Trump administration said?During testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Hegseth argued the “60-day clock pauses, or stops” during a pause in fighting.The US and Iran have largely halted direct attacks since April 8 as ceasefire negotiations began, though those talks have since stalled.Since then, Tehran continues to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz and Washington h …
