The long unanswered question of the War Powers Act’s constitutionality

Published May 7, 2026 5:00am ET | Updated May 7, 2026 10:50am ET



The Trump administration maintains that as of Tuesday, the ceasefire with Iran is still in effect and, as a result, it is not up against the War Powers Act’s 60-day deadline.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed in a Tuesday morning briefing that the deal is still in place and previously told lawmakers that the “60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” which the White House quickly supported.

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