Trump Formally Tells Congress Iran War is ‘Terminated’ as He Skirts Legal Deadline

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that U.S. hostilities with Iran have “terminated,” a legal maneuver designed to sidestep the 60-day deadline for congressional approval of the two-month-long war .

In identical letters sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), President Trump cited the ongoing ceasefire as proof that the conflict is over. However, he also noted that Iran still poses a “significant” threat .

“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated.”
— President Donald J. Trump, in a letter to Congress

⚖️ The Legal Rationale: How Trump is Bypassing the War Powers Act

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 mandates that a president must end hostilities within 60 days (with a possible 30-day extension) unless Congress approves the war . Facing that May 1 deadline—and an increasingly uneasy Congress—the administration argues that the ceasefire effectively reset the clock.

• Ceasefire as the Key Argument: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the 60-day clock “pauses or stops” during a truce, even though U.S. forces remain in the region and the blockade is still in place .
• White House Rationale: “For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated,” a senior administration official said, noting there had been no exchange of fire since April 7 .
• Plan B: A 30-day Extension: The law also allows a 30-day extension for military withdrawal, a route the president could have taken. Trump instead chose to declare the war over while signaling the situation could resume at any time .

🏛️ Republicans Express Growing Unease: ‘This Deadline is Not a Suggestion’

While the administration claims the war is over, cracks are appearing in Republican unity just as the 60-day marker was reached.

• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) defected from her party, voting to advance a measure that would halt military action, arguing the conflict requires congressional input .
• Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) warned that since the administration is stating the conflict has “ceased,” there should be no hostilities moving forward unless Congress passes an AUMF. He expects the White House to seek approval if fighting resumes .
• Public Stance vs. Private Concerns: While Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he sees no need for a vote, other GOP senators privately worry about the lack of a clear exit strategy as gas prices rise and the conflict grinds on .

🔮 Democats are Furious: ‘There’s No Pause Button for War’

Democrats and legal scholars are fiercely disputing the White House’s interpretation, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent.

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.): “There’s no pause button in the Constitution, or the War Powers Act. We’re at war. We’ve been at war for 60 days. The blockade alone is a continuing act of war” .
• Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who has led opposition to the war, argued that whatever Hegseth or the White House calls it, the statute does not support “pausing” military engagement .
• Legal Pushback: Katherine Yon Ebright of the Brennan Legal Center said nothing in the text of the War Powers Resolution suggests the 60-day clock can be terminated or paused just because of a temporary truce .

🌍 The Geopolitical Reality: The War Is Not Actually Over

Despite the legal declarations sent to Capitol Hill, the strategic standoff at sea is far from resolved.

• The Strait of Hormuz: Iran maintains its stranglehold on the vital waterway, which carries 20% of the world’s oil, and the U.S. Navy is continuing its blockade of Iranian ports .
• No Formal Peace: A fragile ceasefire is in place, but formal peace talks remain stalled after the first round collapsed in Islamabad, and Iran is insisting on delaying nuclear negotiations .
• Escalation Risk: The administration has argued that if Iran breaks the truce, the legal clock effectively restarts. “The Department of War continues to update its force posture” in the region to address Iranian threats, Trump noted in his letter .

📋 Key Takeaways

Follow Reflecto News for continuous updates on the War Powers showdown and the fragile Iran peace process.