EXCLUSIVE — President Donald Trump‘s team is discussing requesting congressional authorization for the war in Iran, a senior White House official tells the Washington Examiner.
Congress has not yet voted to authorize Operation Epic Fury, Trump’s Iranian military campaign, which means that Trump has until Friday to force a vote because of the 60-day legality window set forth in the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Trump can grant himself a one-time 30-day extension, subject to limitations on offensive operations.
“The administration is in active conversations with the Hill on this topic,” a senior White House official told the Washington Examiner. “Members of Congress who try to score political points by usurping the commander in chief’s authority would only undermine the United States military abroad, which no elected official should want to do.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly did not answer questions about which route the president may take and defended the White House’s communications surrounding the war with Congress.
“President Trump has been transparent with the Hill since before Operation Epic Fury began, and administration officials provided over 30 bipartisan briefings for Members of Congress to keep them apprised of military updates,” she said in a statement. “The President’s preference is always diplomacy, and Iran wants to make a deal.”
Despite Friday’s deadline, Congress is set to depart Washington on Thursday afternoon for a two-week recess.
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The White House’s negotiations with lawmakers come as a growing number of Republicans staring down a contentious midterm election cycle have voiced concerns about the war stretching beyond the 60-day mark, even if past presidents have largely ignored the War Powers Resolution’s operating window.
“I think we should follow the law,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. “Sixty days is the endpoint for unilateral, non-congressionally approved military hostilities, except for winding down activities.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said Wednesday that he would prefer not to vote to authorize the war, as Trump is seeking an extended ceasefire and diplomatic accord with Tehran.
“I would really rather not ramp up a war effort that I think the president is trying to wind down, and I think he’s right to wind down,” Hawley said. “There’s a number of certifications they can make, but they need to say something. So, hopefully they will.”
However, not all Republicans are cautious of Friday’s deadline. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch foreign policy hawk, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that if he were in the president’s position, he would “completely ignore” the deadline.
“I’ve always thought that it’s been unconstitutional,” he told the Washington Examiner in an interview.
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Axios reported late Wednesday that the president is slated to be briefed by Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, on Thursday regarding new proposed military actions in Iran. The plans reportedly would include targeting Iran’s infrastructure in hopes of breaking the current negotiating stalemate.
Trump received a similar briefing from Cooper just two days before launching the war in late February.
Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.