Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid the groundwork Thursday for bypassing a key deadline in the ongoing U.S. war against Iran.
Come Friday, the 60-day mark of the conflict, the Trump administration is required by law to get Hill approval to continue operations in the region — though the White House can also seek a 30-day extension.
But Hegseth said the current ceasefire period does not count toward that deadline. “The 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire. That’s our understanding,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
