Trump Declares Iran Hostilities Ended as War Powers Deadline Passes

President Donald Trump sent a letter to congressional leaders Mike Johnson and Chuck Grassley on May 1, stating “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.” The letter arrived as the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day deadline expired, and the administration said the early-April ceasefire pauses the legal clock.

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The United States began air and naval strikes against Iran on Feb 28, 2026. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Congress must authorize force within 60 days, or 90 days with an extension. No congressional vote has occurred. A ceasefire was announced in early April, and the administration claims the deadline no longer applies.

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Gasoline prices have topped $8 per gallon in some markets, while the Wall Street Journal reports about one million Iranians unemployed, food price spikes and internet disruptions. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll finds Iran war as unpopular as the 2006 Iraq war and early-1970s Vietnam war. A Reuters/Ipsos poll puts Trump’s approval at 34 percent, his lowest.

Washington Post

The White House letter framed the ceasefire as ending the need for congressional authorization. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the administration believes the ceasefire pauses the 60-day clock. Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged briefings for members. Republican senators Kevin Cramer, Todd Young, Susan Collins and John Curtis voiced support for a future vote, citing constitutional limits on executive war powers.

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Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal argued the Constitution provides no pause button under the War Powers Act. Representative Adam Smith doubted the administration will follow the law. Legal scholar Majid Vatanda warned, “The first thing to remember is that we’ve never been here before; this is uncharted territory.” GOP senators Susan Collins and John Curtis said the 60-day deadline is a legal requirement, not a suggestion.

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The administration says the ceasefire halts the War Powers clock; Democrats and legal experts say the Constitution provides no pause. Iranian officials call the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz a “continuing act of war,” contradicting the White House claim. Analysts differ on how fast the blockade will erode Iran’s economy, estimating weeks to months.

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• “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” — President Donald Trump, letter to Congress

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• “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means, the 60-day clock pauses or stops.” — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

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• “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. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

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• “The blockade is genius, OK?” — President Donald Trump, Oval Office comment

CNN

Congressional leaders are expected to schedule briefings on the war’s status, and several Republican senators plan to introduce an authorization vote later this year. The Strait of Hormuz blockade remains in effect, with its economic toll on Iran under monitoring. November midterms may heighten scrutiny of the war’s popularity and its domestic political impact.

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