The claim came in a letter sent on Friday ahead of a May 1 deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires congressional approval for continued military action.“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 are ended,” Trump wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley.However, he also warned that “the threat posed by Iran… remains significant”, indicating that the conflict may not end completely.The move effectively bypasses the legal requirement for authorization, with the administration arguing that the 60-day clock does not apply due to the ceasefire that began in early April.War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is “right now in an armistice,” meaning “the 60-day clock has stopped or stopped,” the AP news agency reported.
GOP divided, Democrats retreat
While most Republicans have avoided challenging Trump, some have expressed unease. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was unlikely to vote on authorizing the force at this time, while others indicated Congress should eventually consider it.Senator Susan Collins said the deadline was “not a suggestion, it’s a requirement” and called for a clear strategy to end the conflict. Indiana Senator Todd Young said lawmakers should “make sure people … support it” if hostilities resume.Democrats strongly rejected the administration’s explanation. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “There is no pause button in the Constitution… A blockade alone is a continuing act of war.”The debate refers to broader concerns over the president’s war powers, after Trump’s campaign in Iran began two months ago without congressional approval. Critics argue that the continued naval blockade and Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz indicate active hostilities.Adam Smith, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, underlined rising partisan tensions, saying he did not expect the administration to follow the law.