War Powers Resolution 60-Day Deadline Passes as Congress Defers to Trump; Democrats Eye Lawsuit

May 1, 2026 (Day 63 of the US-Iran war) marked the passage of the War Powers Resolution 60-day deadline — the point at which Trump's notification to Congress of Iranian hostilities on March 2 required either a formal congressional authorization or a presidential withdrawal of US forces. Congress did neither. Senate and House Republicans declined to force a vote and left for recess without acting. The Trump administration contended the two-week ceasefire agreed April 7 (since extended indefinitely) paused or reset the WPR clock. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators: 'We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops.' Democratic senators led by Tim Kaine rejected this interpretation as having 'no legal basis' in the statute. Sen. Kaine and allies said they were exploring suing Trump if Congress continues to refuse to act. CENTCOM separately disclosed that it had requested authorization to deploy Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles, stating the IRGC had moved its mobile missile launchers beyond the effective range of existing US strike systems during the ceasefire. Trump signaled possible new military strikes against Iran if diplomacy does not resume — Iran's negotiators had refused to attend a second round of Pakistan-hosted talks with VP Vance. The constitutional impasse places the largest US military conflict since 9/11 in legal limbo, with no authorization vote scheduled.