Congress war‑powers fight
U.S. lawmakers are publicly clashing over war‑powers authority as tensions with Iran rise, turning congressional debate into a central theater for foreign‑policy decisions. (x.com) That dispute is unfolding alongside other political dramas — including a high‑profile scandal linked to a governor bid — which is intensifying the overall legislative standoff. (x.com)
Congress is heading into a legal deadline on Iran that could force lawmakers to either authorize President Donald Trump’s military campaign or try to stop it. (time.com) The United States and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, according to the Congressional Research Service, and Trump formally notified Congress on March 2, which starts the War Powers Resolution clock. Time reported that the 60-day point falls on April 29, with May 1 emerging as the date lawmakers are treating as the practical deadline. (congress.gov) (time.com) The Senate already has a pending measure, Senate Joint Resolution 118, introduced March 5 by Senator Cory Booker with Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff and Chris Murphy, directing the removal of United States forces from unauthorized hostilities against Iran. On March 18, the Senate rejected a motion to discharge it from committee by a 47-53 vote. (congress.gov) The House has already voted once on a similar measure. House Concurrent Resolution 38, sponsored by Representative Thomas Massie, failed on March 5 by a 212-219 vote after directing the president to end hostilities against Iran unless Congress enacted a declaration of war or a specific authorization for force. (congress.gov) The fight is about who gets to decide when the United States goes to war. A December 2025 Congressional Research Service explainer says the 1973 War Powers Resolution was written after Vietnam to make sure “the collective judgment” of Congress and the president applies when U.S. forces enter hostilities. (congress.gov) That law says presidents must consult Congress, report certain military actions, and end unauthorized operations after 60 days unless Congress approves them, with one 30-day extension allowed for safe withdrawal. Congress has not passed an authorization for the use of military force tied to Iran, according to Time and the text of Senate Joint Resolution 118. (time.com) (congress.gov) Democrats are trying to turn that deadline into a floor fight as Congress returns from recess. CBS News reported on April 13 that House Democrats were seeking votes to curb Trump’s war powers, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate would force another vote. (cbsnews.com) Some Republicans have also signaled that the deadline is real even if they have backed Trump so far. Time quoted Representative Don Bacon saying, “By law, we got to either approve continued operations or stop,” while Senator James Lankford said Congress “should” authorize the war after that point if it is to continue. (time.com) Trump’s allies are arguing the president retains broad commander in chief authority, and the White House told Time it is in “active conversations with the Hill” while accusing critics of undermining the military. Congressional Research Service also notes that presidents of both parties have long disputed parts of the War Powers Resolution even as Congress keeps invoking it. (time.com) (congress.gov) The immediate next test is simple: by the end of April, Congress will have to show whether its war-powers claims are more than speeches and resolutions. (time.com)
