Hawzah News Agency- According to the report, Donald Trump's expansion of military operations against Iran without seeking congressional approval has once again ignited debate in Washington over executive war powers.
The collapse of the ceasefire and resumption of hostilities has set the stage for a fresh confrontation between the Trump administration and Congress over the limits of constitutional authority, as well as war funding, the Times noted.
By sending American forces back to the battlefield, Trump has once again sidelined Congress from the decision-making process—this despite the fact that only weeks earlier, both the House and Senate had opposed continuing the war against Iran without congressional authorization.
The resumption of fighting after the ceasefire's collapse comes as the administration demands tens of billions of dollars in additional war funding, further intensifying the dispute over congressional war powers.
The Times assessed that for Republicans, just months away from the midterm elections, this represents one of the worst possible political scenarios. GOP lawmakers are now forced to finance a war over which they have exercised neither effective oversight nor formal approval, all while public opposition to the conflict continues to mount.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking to CNN last week, sidestepped the question of whether Congress's duty is merely to fund the war or also to authorize its initiation, stating only that "we will provide the resources necessary to maintain America's national security."
The Times characterized this Republican approach as yet another example of Congress ceding its authority to the executive branch. By avoiding debate over how the war is being conducted, Republicans are seeking to rally party support to pass the supplemental war budget without conditions or restrictions, relying solely on GOP votes.
This approach is particularly striking given that only weeks ago, both chambers passed bipartisan resolutions reaffirming Congress's constitutional authority over matters of war. Those resolutions effectively served as a political warning to the president, as the war Trump had promised would last only weeks has now entered its fourth month.
Democrats Demand War Strategy in Exchange for Funding
Democrats, after months of attempting to restore congressional war powers to the agenda, have ramped up pressure on the administration. They have blocked consideration of the annual defense policy bill and opposed military funding measures to force accountability.
Democrats maintain that Congress's power of the purse cannot be separated from its constitutional authority to declare war and oversee military operations. They have declared they will not support new funding until the administration clearly presents its strategy, objectives, and exit plan for the war with Iran.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated last week, "If Republicans need our votes, they must present a credible strategy. How long will this war last? How will it end? What are our objectives? These are very simple questions, yet none have been answered."
Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined his party in blocking floor consideration of the defense bill he had previously supported in committee. "I cannot support advancing legislation that facilitates the continuation of a war against Iran—a war Congress never authorized," Reed said.
Republicans Echo Trump's Arguments
The Times reported that Republicans have largely sidelined the war powers debate, with a significant number echoing the same arguments Trump has used to justify the resumption of hostilities.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, speaking to Fox News, repeated unsubstantiated claims that Iran had attacked ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz over decades.
The Times noted that lawmakers are scheduled to publicly question the administration's performance during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine are expected to defend the Pentagon's supplemental funding request.
Limited Pushback from Some GOP Senators
The Times reported that a number of Republicans have criticized the administration's lack of transparency with Congress, arguing lawmakers have not been sufficiently briefed on developments.
Senator Bill Cassidy, who last month joined Democrats in supporting a measure requiring Trump to either halt hostilities or seek congressional authorization to continue the war, said the administration must now present a new security report to Congress following the resumption of fighting.
Senator Lisa Murkowski stressed that the administration must engage with Congress with greater transparency.
However, the Times noted that such criticism has yet to translate into any new initiative to restrict the president's military authority. Senator John Curtis of Utah, despite previously declaring he would not support military operations beyond 60 days without congressional approval, ultimately voted alongside his party on measures limiting presidential war powers.
Trump Disregards Congressional Decisions
The Times further reported that Trump continues to effectively ignore congressional decisions. Despite both chambers passing measures affirming the necessity of congressional authorization for continued hostilities, Trump proceeded without compliance, informing Congress last week in an official notification of the resumption of conflict with Iran.
Trump emphasized in the notification that he had acted as Commander-in-Chief and required no consultation with the legislative branch, describing the new military operations as a "limited and proportionate response" to recent Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Times concluded its report by noting that as of Sunday evening, the mutual hostilities between the US and Iran had entered their ninth day. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement that American forces "continue to hold Iran accountable, as directed by the Commander-in-Chief."
According to the report, an Iranian ballistic missile strike on a US military base in Jordan over the weekend killed two American service members, while another soldier died during the destruction of an Iranian drone in northern Iraq. The Times noted that with these latest casualties, the number of American troops killed since the war began in late February has reached 17.
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