U.S. Republican Lawmakers Debate War Authorization as 60-Day Iran War Deadline Nears May 1

According to Semafor, U.S. Republican lawmakers are preparing for a major debate on war authorization as the 60-day deadline under the War Powers Act approaches on May 1 (this Friday). Utah Senator Curtis emphasized the urgency, stating: “This is significant. We are discussing how to respond. Congress must recognize its responsibility.” Maine Senator Collins reinforced that the 60-day mark is a trigger point requiring congressional authorization for further military action. While Republicans oppose Democratic proposals to halt hostilities, they acknowledge Congress should not remain passive. The U.S. government may invoke a 30-day withdrawal period to extend the timeline to June, argue the law does not apply, or claim a ceasefire falls outside the 60-day limit.