That 60-day clock is now rapidly running down. The U.S. campaign against Iran began Feb. 28, and the legal deadline based on the Administration’s formal notification to Congress in early March is expected to arrive by May 1. The date has emerged as a pivotal moment for lawmakers, who will soon face a stark choice: approve the war, force its end, or risk allowing the Administration to proceed in defiance of the statute.
“By law, we got to either approve continued operations or stop,” Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, previously told TIME. “If it’s not approved, by law they have to stop their operations.”
So far, Congress has done none of the above. The Senate has now voted four times this year to block resolutions invoking the War Powers Act, effectively allowing the conflict to continue without formal authorization. Republicans have largely argued that cutting off military operations abruptly could endanger U.S. forces and embolden Iran. But Democrats are approaching the May 1 deadline as a moment when Republicans can no longer sidestep questions about Congress’ oversight role over the war.
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