Murkowski Grills Hegseth About Getting Congressional Approval for Iran War: Law Is Pretty Clear'

"The War Powers Resolution is pretty clear here. It requires the president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization. I think it's important that we in Congress actually assert our own role and responsibility to this. That 60-day clock expired April 28th, and then on the 1st, the administration sent letters to congressional leaders asserting that the hostilities have ended."

"I think where there is confusion is when the president says hostilities have ended, we still have 15,000 troops that are forward deployed, more than 20 warships in an active naval blockade. CENTCOM has redirected 61 commercial vessels and disabled tankers. In other words, it doesn't appear that hostilities have ended. And so the question to you is whether or not the administration has considered or has intended to seek an authorization of use of military force from Congress."

"Senator, our view is that should the president make the decision to recommence, we would have all the authorities necessary to do so. Do you think that it would be helpful to the president if it was made clear that, in fact, Congress did provide an AUMF?"

"Hegseth doubled down, I think the presidentour view is that he has all the authorities he needs under Article II to execute."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to seek congressional legal authorization for the war in Iran. She cited the War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization. She said the 60-day period expired April 28 and that letters sent to congressional leaders on May 1 asserted hostilities had ended. She argued that the situation does not match that claim, pointing to 15,000 forward-deployed troops, more than 20 warships in an active naval blockade, and CENTCOM actions affecting commercial vessels and tankers. She asked whether the administration intended to seek an authorization of use of military force. Hegseth responded that the administration believes the president has sufficient Article II authority and that additional authorization would not be necessary.

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