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Hegseth: 60-day war power limit paused during ceasefire; Dem Sen. Kaine: Don't think so
Fox News and AP ^ | 4-30-2026 | Eric Mack

Posted on 04/30/2026 10:17:20 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan

The Trump administration is running up against a 60-day limit for the Iran war that is instituted by the War Powers Act of 1973, but War Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the ceasefire does not qualify.

The law requires that Congress must declare war or authorize the use of force, although it does provide for presidents to have a 30-day extension to draw down hostilities if it notifies Congress.

“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said at during Thursday's hearing.

The 60-day limit for the Iran war will be reached Friday, and the two-week ceasefire does not extend that deadline like Hegseth believes, according to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

“I do not believe the statute would support that,” Kaine responded, adding he had “serious constitutional concerns.”

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: demagogicparty; iran; irgc; petehegseth; timkaine; virginia; waronterror
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To: shotgun
The WPA is not in the Constitution Timmy.

Yup.

Congress only funds and regulates the troops and can give a verbal declaration.

The president commands the troops.

If congress wants to stop the president from commanding the troops they would need to defund the effort or disband the army.

21 posted on 04/30/2026 11:04:25 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Brian Griffin

“ Within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to section 4(a)(1), whichever is earlier,
the President shall terminate any use of United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted (or required to be submitted),
unless the Congress“

And then there is this, ceasefire is ‘termination’. So now it’s another 92 days.


22 posted on 04/30/2026 11:05:13 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan
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To: Jim Noble
The War Powers Act is unconstitutional, so hopefully they will try to sell this ridiculous “pause”, it will go to USSC and the stupid non-law will finally be sent to the trash.

Right-on Jimbo!

23 posted on 04/30/2026 11:05:49 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Pete Dovgan

The CREEPY CLOWN SPEAKS !
Can someone post that pictur of him at the bus window?


24 posted on 04/30/2026 11:24:04 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Pete Dovgan

Hey, Dem traitors, don’t get upset. The ceasfire won’t last any longer thn the Korean conflict one.

“Signed on July 27, 1953. This agreement halted active fighting and established the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), but because a formal peace treaty was never signed, the war technically remains ongoing. The cessation of hostilities is often called a “pause without peace”.”

Milwaukee Independent history article.


25 posted on 04/30/2026 11:57:27 AM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: Pete Dovgan

“terminate...1. to bring or come to a definite end.”

my Random House Dictionary

“ceasefire...a temporary cessation of hostilities.”

“hostilities, acts of warfare”


26 posted on 04/30/2026 12:16:49 PM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & > ~$600 to each insured vehicle owner 4 gas)
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To: Pete Dovgan

“an additional thirty days...in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces.”


27 posted on 04/30/2026 12:18:18 PM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & > ~$600 to each insured vehicle owner 4 gas)
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To: Vermont Lt

The WPA is a pointless statute. Unless Congress actually shuts off the funding for the Dept. of Defense — which is never going to happen — the whole thing is just a stage act. There is no other enforcement mechanism written into the law.


28 posted on 04/30/2026 12:19:00 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If I leave here, it’s because I’m tired of arguing with geriatric parrots wearing MAGA hats.)
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To: Jim Noble

The USSC won’t even take the case. You’d have a hard time finding anyone with the legal standing in court over it.


29 posted on 04/30/2026 12:20:48 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If I leave here, it’s because I’m tired of arguing with geriatric parrots wearing MAGA hats.)
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To: Pete Dovgan

That’s stretching it Hegseth. Let’s just massively bomb their strategic locations and move out. Resupply our expended ammunition and get ready for the next round.


30 posted on 04/30/2026 12:22:02 PM PDT by vpintheak (The left is violence.)
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To: Pete Dovgan







31 posted on 04/30/2026 12:41:01 PM PDT by Bikkuri
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To: Vermont Lt

You mean when a war is stopped, it’s no longer in operation?


32 posted on 04/30/2026 1:03:06 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: All

A cease-fire is a cessation.

Same root word.


33 posted on 04/30/2026 1:07:35 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Mouton

Kaine was to Hitlery as Walz was to Kamala,

Both weak “men” chosen to make their partners look stronger than they really were.

I wonder now if Kaine was also a CCP plant?


34 posted on 04/30/2026 1:14:56 PM PDT by captmar-vell
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To: Pete Dovgan

resets when there’s a declared cease fire.


35 posted on 04/30/2026 1:15:20 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: Pete Dovgan

If that was their rationale for this asinine strategy, we WILL lose Congress and the next 2 years will be like 2019-20.

Boneheads.


36 posted on 04/30/2026 1:15:57 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 "/!i!! &@$%&*(@ -')
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To: reasonisfaith

When I was a kid and fighting with my brother, the fight did not end with me on the ground with his hand pressing my face in the dirt. It ended when he stood up and backed off. (That lasted until I was about 12 and hit puberty.)

We are still holding them down with a hand pressing their heads into the dirt. The fight is not over yet.


37 posted on 04/30/2026 1:18:19 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Pete Dovgan

This is part of the Communist Plan to deliver Vietnam to the Communists in 1973. This law was designed to change the balance of power to Democrats.


38 posted on 04/30/2026 1:30:31 PM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: Pete Dovgan

I agree that the ceasefire resets the period rather than merely pausing it. That’s one of the many problems with unconstitutional legislation.


39 posted on 04/30/2026 1:41:02 PM PDT by Thud
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To: Pete Dovgan

I agree that the ceasefire resets the period rather than merely pausing it. That’s one of the many problems with unconstitutional legislation.


40 posted on 04/30/2026 1:41:25 PM PDT by Thud
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