All articles tagged with #congressional authorization
The Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran after Sen. Bill Cassidy’s surprise defection, signaling possible congressional limits on Trump’s approach; however, passage through both chambers and a presidential veto make its enactment unlikely, even as the vote reflects rising headwinds against escalation amid rising gas prices and looming midterms.
President Donald Trump claims he doesn’t need congressional authorization to extend U.S. actions against Iran, arguing past presidents flouted the War Powers Act and that the 60‑day clock has expired. The piece notes the record is mixed: Reagan sought congressional approval for Lebanon within the window; Bush Sr. sought approval for Desert Storm; Bush Jr. obtained authorizations for Afghanistan and Iraq; Clinton’s Kosovo bombing bypassed the 60‑day limit; Obama contended Libya did not count as hostilities and extended beyond the window. Legal experts warn that the War Powers Act still governs and that waging war without Congress risks constitutional overreach, leaving Trump with an unclear off‑ramp as tensions with Iran persist.
The War Powers Resolution imposes a 60-day clock on hostilities without congressional authorization; with the Feb. 28 strikes against Iran, the clock would expire May 1, but a continuing ceasefire and White House claims that hostilities are paused complicate how Congress’s role will be exercised, as lawmakers debate whether to extend, authorize, or halt actions and a potential 30-day extension could be sought when Congress returns from recess.
Trump officials argue the 60-day War Powers clock to win congressional authorization for actions against Iran was paused by the ceasefire, delaying the May 1 deadline; Democrats and legal experts say there’s no pause provision and the clock may remain active as hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz continue. The dispute underscores deep partisan disagreement over how “hostilities” are defined and whether a rebranded operation could bypass the clock, with the AUMF also cited as a possible justification. A Senate vote on curbing presidential authority failed along party lines, leaving the legal question unresolved.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate that a U.S.-Iran ceasefire pauses the 60-day War Powers clock, allowing American troops to stay in the conflict without new congressional authorization—a view Democrats, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, challenge as legally dubious since the War Powers Resolution requires withdrawal or congressional approval within 60 days (with a possible 30-day extension). With the deadline looming Friday and no authorization filed, lawmakers are pushing for another vote on war powers legislation while the White House contends the executive branch ultimately decides when the war ends.
A federal judge pressed Justice Department lawyers to cite the legal authority for the Trump administration’s plan to demolish the White House East Wing and build a $400 million ballroom, as historic-preservation groups sue for oversight. The hearing raises whether Congress must authorize such a project, even as the administration cites funding and Interior Department gifts; design reviews by two federal commissions continue and construction remains planned for spring, with potential appeals to higher courts.
As Trump raises the prospect of taking Greenland, Republicans in Congress push for guardrails like congressional sign-off and war-powers resolutions, while privately reassuring Denmark and NATO allies. Key lawmakers including Sen. Lisa Murkowski back nonbinding measures to affirm sovereignty and constrain action, but leadership signals limited appetite to block the president, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Senate Republicans narrowly blocked a bid to require President Trump to seek congressional approval before any major military action against Venezuela, with two GOP defectors flipping after extensive White House lobbying and Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote to defeat the measure, signaling Trump’s sway over GOP foreign policy even as Democrats plan additional votes on related issues like Greenland.
The Biden administration and financial regulators are signaling that no U.S. bank depositors, even those with more than the $250,000 federal insurance cap, will lose money in a bank failure to prevent a cascading series of bank runs. However, there is no formal FDIC insurance for any deposits over $250,000 right now, and abandoning the cap on deposit insurance without explicit Congressional authorization could create a "moral hazard" issue and raise questions about how banks pay for FDIC insurance.