Hegseth: Ceasefire Pauses War Powers Clock

0:00It's April 30th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is U.S. News Today National News powered by AI. Secretary of War Pete Hakeseth claims a ceasefire with Iran pauses the 60-day clock under the War Powers Act. That means the Trump administration doesn't need congressional approval yet to keep the fight going. The joint U.S. Israeli strikes kicked off on February 28th, but President Trump didn't notify Congress until March 2nd, so the deadline hits this Friday without some kind of extension. The ceasefire started April 8th for two weeks, but got extended indefinitely by Trump. During a Senate hearing, Hakeseth told Senator Tim Cain he thinks the pause holds water, deferring to White House lawyers on the details. Cain pushed back hard, saying the law doesn't back that up, and the clock runs out soon. This raises big constitutional red flags, especially since the 1973 Act demands notice within 48 hours, and caps action at. 60 days unless Congress signs off. No part of it mentions

1:00pausing for a truce. It's the first time the administration floated this idea, and experts doubt it'll stick in court. The White House says they briefed Congress over 30 times and prefers diplomacy, while warning lawmakers against meddling in the commander-in-cheese role. Meanwhile, the Senate shot down a resolution to stop the conflict for the sixth time, 50-47. A few Republicans crossed over, but with talks ongoing between the Hill and the White House, this legal tussle could drag on and shape how wars get, waged from here.