The Trump administration contends a ceasefire with Iran effectively stops the 60-day clock that would otherwise force it to seek congressional approval to continue fighting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Thursday. Testifying before the Armed Services Committee, Hegseth argued that the Vietnam War-era War Powers Act deadline is "paused" because active hostilities have halted, even as Friday's statutory cutoff approaches, the Washington Post reports. The administration has not requested authorization for the Iran war, launched with Israel on Feb. 28. Hegseth declined to say whether it would do so, saying that decision rests with the White House.
For the sixth time, Republicans in the Senate on Thursday blocked Democrats' attempt to advance a measure limiting Trump's authority to wage the war, 47-50, per CBS News. The only Republicans to vote yes were Sens. Rand Paul and Susan Collins; Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote no. Collins' break with her party on the issue was new: She said after the vote that she won't back more strikes on Iran until the administration specifies clear goals and strategy for bringing an end to the fighting, per the Hill. In a statement, the White House said it was in "active conversations with the Hill" and warned lawmakers against trying "to score political points by usurping the Commander-in-Chief's authority."
Armed Services Chair Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican, told reporters he was not particularly worried about the deadline and would not say if he thought Congress should vote on the war. The hearing underscored widening disputes over both the conflict and Hegseth's leadership, including:
- Party shots: Hegseth again criticized lawmakers he called "defeatists from the cheap seats," after labeling Democrats "the biggest adversary we face" in a House hearing a day earlier. Democrats accused him of misleading the public and questioned the war's strategy, costs, and impact on taxpayers; Pentagon officials say the campaign has cost about $25 billion so far and is part of an effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
- Pentagon firings: Lawmakers from both parties pressed Hegseth on his recent removal of senior military leaders, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, as well as the disproportionate ouster of Black and female officers. Hegseth said personnel decisions are based solely on merit and declined to detail why George was forced into early retirement.
- Election deployment: Hegseth refused to rule out deploying troops to polling places during the November midterms, calling that scenario hypothetical after Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked if he'd "stand up for the Constitution and say no" should Trump give such an order. "It's not a hypothetical," she responded, per the Hill, citing a New York Times interview in which Trump voiced regret at not ordering the National Guard to seize Dominion voting machines in swing states after he lost the 2020 election.
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