WATCH: Sen. Kaine asks Hegseth if Trump will seek Congress’ approval as Iran war hits deadline
Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday whether President Donald Trump will seek the legally required congressional authorization for his war in Iran during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The War Powers Resolution says that within 60 days of beginning a war without congressional authorization, a president must either conclude the war or extend by another 30 days via a request to Congress.
“We’re right at the 60-day deadline,” Kaine said. “Is the president intending to either seek congressional authorization for the war in Iran or send us the legally required certification that he needs an additional 30 days to remove U.S. forces from the war?”
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said.
“OK, well, I do not believe the statute would support that,” Kaine responded.
Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were invited to testify on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request to increase defense spending to $1.5 trillion – the largest proposed amount in decades.
On Wednesday, the defense leaders appeared before House lawmakers, who questioned the defense leaders for the first time since the start of the war on Iran. Hegseth sparred with Democrats on the costs of the war and its ripple effects on Americans and the economy.
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