President Donald Trump’s administration is contending that the war in Iran has by this time ended due to the ceasefire started in early April, an interpretation that would permit the White House to curtail the requisite to ask for congressional consent.
By Catholics for Catholics
President Donald Trump’s administration is contending that the war in Iran has by this time ended due to the ceasefire started in early April, an interpretation that would permit the White House to curtail the requisite to ask for congressional consent.
The statement enhances an argument presented by War Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony to the Senate on Thursday, when he said the ceasefire in effect put a pause to the war. Under that reasoning, the administration has not yet reached the prerequisite obligated by a 1973 law to seek formal approval from Congress for military action that goes beyond 60 days, according to a story by Newsmax.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior administration official who spoke about the administration’s position, said for purposes of that law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated.” He added that both sides have not traded fire since the two-week peace truce that began April 7.
Despite the truce, both sides have remained in a fragile standstill. On one side, Tehran still has a choke hold on the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. Navy has imposed a blockade to stop Iran’s tankers from going to sea.
Nevertheless, several Republicans who have been at odds with Trump’s war in Iran stressed that there would be a May 1 deadline for Congress to intervene. But the date is now set to pass with no action from GOP lawmakers who continue to defer to the White House.
Congress must declare war or authorize the use of force within 60 days — a deadline that falls on today — or within 90 days if the president asks for an extension, according to the War Powers Resolution of 1973. But up until now, Congress made no attempt at enforcing that requirement, leaving town for a week on Thursday after the Senate rejected a Democrat attempt to halt the war for a sixth time.
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