Washington’s defense corridors are buzzing after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that President Trump holds the authority to prolong conflicts past 60 days without congressional green light. Delivered in a Senate hearing, the comment has ignited debates over the balance of power in American foreign policy.
The exchange unfolded when Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, quizzed Hegseth on compliance with the War Powers Resolution concerning Iran. Hegseth explained that the ceasefire halting US-Iran clashes on April 7 resets the 60-day timer. The hostilities, triggered by coordinated US-Israel airstrikes on February 28 targeting key Iranian figures like Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior officers, endured for about 40 days.
Trump’s March 2 notification to Congress about the strikes positioned May 1 as a critical juncture. Beyond that, the law typically demands approval to continue hostilities. Hegseth’s stance suggests the administration views the truce as interrupting this countdown, allowing flexibility in ongoing operations.
This interpretation arrives against a backdrop of international diplomacy. Trump and Putin recently conversed over the phone for over 90 minutes, addressing the White House dinner shooting, Iranian developments, and Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov noted Putin’s firm denouncement of the attack on Trump and emphasis on rejecting political violence.
Focus sharpened on the Middle East, where Putin endorsed the ceasefire prolongation, deeming it vital for de-escalation. Yet, he issued a stark warning: further military actions by Washington and Jerusalem could destabilize not just Iran and its neighbors, but the entire world order.
As global stakes rise, Hegseth’s testimony highlights enduring tensions between executive prerogative and legislative checks, with implications for future US interventions.
