Trump Claims No Need for Congress on Iran Ops, Citing Ceasefire

President Donald Trump is throwing down the gauntlet, telling Congress he doesn’t need their blessing for military operations in Iran, all thanks to a ceasefire he claims is in effect. This declaration comes as the conflict marks a tense 60 days this week.

“On April 7, 2026, I ordered a two-week ceasefire,” Trump stated in letters sent to both the House and Senate. “The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.”

But hold on—this isn’t just a walk in the park. Trump added that while U.S. operations against the Iranian regime have been successful, the threat from Iran remains “significant.” He promised to keep congressional leaders in the loop about any further developments.

Meanwhile, congressional leaders are facing a barrage of questions about whether they’ll schedule votes for formal war authorization. The 1973 War Powers Resolution mandates that the president seek congressional approval after 60 days of military conflict. Sure, there’s a provision for a 30-day extension to safely withdraw troops, but Trump conveniently left that out of his correspondence.

“I have and will continue to direct United States Armed Forces consistent with my responsibilities and pursuant to my constitutional authority,” Trump wrote, asserting his power as Commander in Chief.

The U.S. military strikes against Iran kicked off on February 28, but Congress was only notified on March 2, starting the countdown. A temporary ceasefire was initiated on April 8 to facilitate negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but those talks have gone nowhere.

Iran has effectively blocked traffic in the strait while the U.S. maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports, deploying over 100 fighter jets and two carrier strike groups to enforce it. Just recently, a Navy destroyer fired upon an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to breach the blockade.

Michael Glennon, a constitutional law expert at Tufts University, isn’t buying Trump’s argument. He called it “a stretch,” asserting that the administration’s claim that the clock has stopped is flawed. “The hostilities are continuing as a consequence of the administration’s enforcement of the blockade,” he said. “That’s not a ceasefire.”

Stephen Pomper from the International Crisis Group echoed this sentiment, labeling the blockade as “a hostile act” and questioning how it doesn’t fall under the definition of hostilities.

In a joint statement, Reps. Gregory Meeks, Adam Smith, and Jim Himes argued that the ceasefire doesn’t halt the War Powers clock. “Hostilities have not ceased; both sides are enforcing naval blockades through military force,” they wrote. “This has been an unauthorized war of choice based on a demonstrably false premise.”

As Trump jetted off to Florida on Friday, he told reporters he wasn’t seeking congressional authorization because “it’s never been sought before.” He claimed past presidents didn’t ask for it either, dismissing the need for congressional approval.

Historically, other presidents have sought congressional authorization for military actions. Obama faced backlash for not doing so in Libya back in 2011, while both Bush administrations did seek approval for conflicts in the Middle East.

Last year, Congress repealed authorizations for military force from 2002 and 1991 as part of the Pentagon’s spending package. Matt Waxman from Columbia Law School noted that while a ceasefire could theoretically reset the War Powers clock, it’s hard to defend this case given ongoing military actions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the need for Congress to weigh in on the Iran conflict, insisting “we’re not at war.” He echoed Trump’s sentiment that there’s no active military engagement happening right now.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also dismissed the 60-day threshold during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, suggesting that the ceasefire means the clock pauses or stops.