Following the Vietnam War, the United States enacted the War Powers Resolution, which limits a president’s ability to engage in military action without congressional approval to 60 days. Under this law, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying armed forces and seek authorization to continue operations beyond the initial period. The resolution also allows an additional 30 days for safe troop withdrawal if necessary.

In the ongoing Iran conflict, President Donald Trump reportedly initiated military action without prior congressional approval, formally notifying Congress only after launching attacks on February 28. The 60-day limit is set to expire around May 1, by which time Congress must authorize the operation for it to continue. Debate persists over whether the countdown began on the day of the attack or the day Congress was notified.

Some Republican lawmakers argue that any cease-fire period should not count toward the 60-day limit, while certain Democrats believe such pauses complicate the timeline. Despite the law’s existence, no U.S. military operation has ever been halted under it, and past presidents have questioned its constitutional validity.