Claim by Several Congressional Members
Following President Donald Trump’s June 21, 2025, military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, critics claimed he violated the War Powers Act by bypassing congressional approval.
Explanation
This claim is contested, but not without precedent. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, presidents must notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating hostilities and obtain approval within 60 days, with a 30-day withdrawal window if approval isn’t granted. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the administration complied by informing Congress after the operation was underway.
However, members of Congress from both parties pushed back. Rep. Jim Himes called the strike a “clear violation of the Constitution”, and Sen. Tim Kaine introduced a resolution reinforcing Congress’s authority over military action.
This situation echoes decades of tension between the executive and legislative branches. Since World War II—the last formally declared U.S. war—presidents have increasingly acted under Article II powers as Commander-in-Chief, often justifying their actions as urgent or defensive in nature. A 2023 attempt to repeal the 2001 AUMF, which has long been used to justify anti-terrorism actions, failed to pass the House.
Additionally, CNN reported that only top Republican leaders were briefed before the strike, a departure from the established legal precedent of notifying the full “Gang of Eight”—the bipartisan intelligence leadership—prior to sensitive operations.
Ultimately, experts note that the overlapping of presidential and congressional powers leaves the issue unresolved. As this CRS analysis explains, the president’s authority in foreign conflict remains broadly interpreted, especially when Congress declines to act swiftly in response.
Conclusion
Fact or Fiction? Unclear. While critics argue Trump bypassed constitutional limits, the administration followed the reporting requirements of the War Powers Act. As with past presidents, the legal boundaries remain murky and unresolved without judicial intervention or decisive legislative action.
Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.
or
