On Eve Of Trump’s Iran War Hitting 60 Days, Senate Democrats Call On Republicans To Stand By Their Own Words
Senate Republicans, In Their Own Words, Acknowledge 60 Days Of Iran War As A Turning Point
Washington D.C. – As the war reaches a significant milestone, Senate Democrats remind Senate Republicans of their own past statements on the significance of 60 days of military action and call on Republicans to vote with them on a forthcoming Iran War Powers Resolution.
Tomorrow will be 60 days since Donald Trump officially notified Congress of his disastrous war in Iran—a war he launched without declaration or authorization from Congress. Week after week, Republicans have abdicated their Constitutional duty, voting against Democrats’ efforts to hold Trump accountable for his costly and illegal war.
Republicans have repeatedly acknowledged that once a conflict hits 60 days, Congress must authorize it. Well, that moment has arrived — and Republicans are already trying to weasel out of taking action.
“Republicans keep trying to move the goalposts. But it should be plain as day to anyone who has been tracking the Senators’ own words that sixty days is a turning point,” said Leader Schumer. “We will give Republicans yet another chance to vote with us, honor their words, and hold the President accountable. We will see if they stand with the American people or continue to bow a knee to Trump.”
Below are quotes from Senate Republicans:
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “The 60-days [mark] is very important to me. The War Powers Act makes clear that at the 60-day point the Congress needs to authorize any further military action,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told Semafor. “Sixty days is a trigger that requires Congress to act.” [Semafor, 4/28/26]
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “The 60-day trigger is a very important one. At that point, Congress has to authorize the military action to continue. There’s a 30-day period where you could wind it down. And I will not support extending the hostilities beyond that 60 days, except for wind-down activities,” she said. [The Hill, 4/23/26]
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Congress needs to authorize the conflict if it exceeds 60 days or if the U.S. deploys ground troops, which Trump has not ruled out. “I have been clear from the beginning of this military operation that the President’s power is not unlimited as Commander in Chief, as the Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace,” Collins said in a statement. [Washington Post, 4/15/26]
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): “I will not support ongoing military action beyond a 60-day window without congressional approval. I take this position for two reasons — one is historical, and one is constitutional.” [Deseret News, 4/1/26]
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): “It’s a big deal. … There are a number of us having discussions about what that [60th] day means, what our response should be. It’s important to me that Congress realizes their responsibility, and so I’ll be actively engaged in making sure we do that.” … “If we’re going to be at war and it goes past the timeframe, Congress needs to authorize it.” [Semafor, 4/28/26]
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO): “If there’s not a use of ground troops involved, the president has 60 days to conduct operations,” Hawley said. If the president seeks to add ground troops to the conflict, that would be a different story. To do that, he would need to seek congressional approval, Hawley said. [Missouri Independent, 3/3/26]
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK): As lawmakers returned from their two week recess, several Republicans told TIME they would draw a line at the 60-day threshold—though not all agreed on what should follow. “It’s the law,” Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma tells TIME when asked whether Congress should authorize the war after that point. “They should.” [TIME, 4/14/26]
Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA): “He briefed the Congress as is required by the War Powers Resolution. He has 60 days—even under that resolution—before any further requirements come into effect.” [Fox News Sunday, 3/1/26]
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Murkowski on approaching 60 day mark of Iran war: “They've either got to extend for an additional 30 or they got to come and talk to us. So I'm hoping to find out what and when that might apply.” [NOTUS, 4/27/26]
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): “This week, Paul joined US Senate Democrats to vote for the War Powers Resolution. The measure failed, but Paul is hopeful it won't next week as it marks the 60th day deadline for unauthorized military operations to end. ‘There are a few more in my party saying 60 days is kind of a limit for them and that they do believe that congress should vote on it at that time, so I think it will be interesting to see,’ he said. Paul reminded the public that presidents need to ask Congress for permission when it comes to war.” [Lex18, 4/24/26]
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds said that if Trump expects Congress to support the conflict beyond the 60-day window, then the administration should be prepared to “come in and give us a full description of it and sell the point and the plan.” [The New Republic, 4/15/26]
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): Tillis said the War Powers Act “needs to be honored.” “At the 60-day mark, we need to know, ‘Are we in it for a longer term so you’re seeking an extension or do you have a strategy for exit?’ he said, calling on the administration to lay out its game plan for the war. “If you take a look at the current posture of negotiations, I don’t think we’re going to be done in 30 days,” he said. “So why not [do it] through a request for an extension [of military authority], articulate what that looks like.” [The Hill,4/23/26]
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): Asked by Axios whether Trump ought to seek congressional approval for further strikes in Iran or elsewhere, Tuberville said no, pointing instead to funding decisions and a 60-day "grace period." [Axios, 3/10/26]
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): “The worst thing we can do is go to war without trying to unify a segment of the American people. We're in this war though and we're going to be approaching a point here at the end of this month where we hit that 60-day threshold which is an important day because that's in the War Powers Act. And the War Powers Act indicates that at that point congress is either going to have to authorize future force or the president has a 30-day extension but either way -- or withdrawal, so either way, we're having to start think very seriously as an institution about an authorization. I'd prefer not to wait until the very end. To get clarity as to what comes next. I think this will be an opportunity for us to articulate any concerns with the plan and trade-offs and associated things and then I’m willing to work with the administration if an AUMF is necessary to draft one that they're comfortable with.” [Semafor World Economy Forum Via CSPAN, 4/16/26]
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