Hostilities have ended,” Trump says—May deadline for Congress to approve Iran action doesn’t apply

On Friday, May 1, the White House told the U.S. Congress in a letter that fighting with Iran has “terminated,” even though American troops are still operating in the region.

The statement appears to sidestep a legal deadline tied to President Donald Trump’s need to seek congressional permission to continue the conflict.

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president must obtain authorization within 60 days of the start of hostilities. That window closed this Friday. Trump maintains that the conflict—begun on February 28, 2026—effectively concluded with a fragile ceasefire in early April, so the deadline should not apply.

In his letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Chuck Grassley, Trump wrote: “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.” He also warned that the overall danger remains “significant,” and that U.S. forces will remain in the area to help ensure a more durable peace.

The decision comes amid uncertainty inside the Republican Party, which is split in practice, though many members remain hesitant to challenge the administration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested he does not plan to push for a vote authorizing force, while Senator Kevin Cramer raised questions about whether the War Powers Resolution is constitutional.

Still, some Republicans have raised concerns. Senator Susan Collins and Senator Todd Young, among others, have signaled discomfort with the administration’s approach. Collins said the 60-day deadline is “not a suggestion, it is a requirement,” and she supported the effort to stop the war.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that the ceasefire “pauses or stops” the clock, even as the U.S. Navy continues a blockade intended to keep Iranian oil tankers from reaching the sea.

The White House’s position reflects the administration’s broader argument for expansive presidential authority. Trump has repeatedly criticized the War Powers Resolution, and upon departing for Florida, he said, “Every other president considered it totally unconstitutional, and we agree with that.”