Republicans on the Hill are grasping for any reason to delay asserting Congress’ war-making powers over President Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
Some argue 60 days of hostilities is the timeline for Congress to act. Other GOP lawmakers say the ongoing ceasefire talks have paused that clock. And still other Republicans say they’re open to an eventual formal war authorization — even as they’re showing no urgency toward drafting one.
“We’re not there. We’ve had some internal conversations,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said. “We support the president’s effort to get this resolved.”
Many GOP lawmakers have pointed to May 1 — roughly the 60-day mark since the start of hostilities — as a key inflection point where some Republicans might peel off and support a war powers resolution.
But others have begun citing language in the War Powers Resolution of 1973 enabling Trump to continue hostilities for an additional 30 days.
“I think 90 days will be the more decisive point,” Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) said. “Sixty you can at least show you’re trying to get there, but 90 is very clear.”
Asked about the looming 60-day deadline, Senate Majority Leader John Thune noted: “The president does have, under the law, another 30 days that he can unilaterally extend it.”
A number of Republicans say they’re open to an authorization for use of military force, but only when asked. It’s been nearly a month since Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) first indicated she was drafting an AUMF, but she has yet to release it.
Murkowski said Wednesday she’s been having “some good conversations” around her push and expects those talks will continue.
AUMF to come? House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.) predicted a House AUMF would come after 60 days elapsed. Mast doesn’t personally think one is needed for Iran but said the seriousness of any AUMF would “entirely depend on how it’s worded.”
“I have no doubt that it will come up,” Mast said. “There’s legislative and administrative branch coordination on this but not settled.”
War powers votes are going to continue in both the House and Senate — but there’s been little change in the vote tallies since the war’s start.
Another Pentagon firing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed out another top Pentagon official amid the war in Iran. Navy Secretary John Phelan was sacked on Wednesday, weeks after the departure of Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff.
Phelan’s abrupt firing comes as the U.S. is enforcing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked about the firings late Wednesday night, Thune told us: “Stability is a good thing, especially in times of conflict. So we’ll try to get some answers, but I don’t have any.”
Thune noted that the Senate has a “full plate” and that “confirming new people is going to take a while,” meaning Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao will likely have an extended stint in the role.
