NextFin News - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted on Tuesday that U.S. President Trump possesses the unilateral authority to resume military strikes against Iran without seeking further approval from Congress. The statement, delivered during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, marks a significant escalation in the executive branch's interpretation of war powers as the administration navigates a fragile ceasefire and a nearly $1.5 trillion defense budget request for the 2027 fiscal year.
The timing of Hegseth’s testimony is critical. The Trump administration recently surpassed the 60-day threshold mandated by the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires the executive to obtain congressional authorization for sustained military hostilities. While the White House claimed earlier this month that active hostilities had ceased—thereby bypassing the immediate need for an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)—Hegseth made it clear that the pause is a matter of presidential discretion rather than legal constraint. Under questioning from Senator Lisa Murkowski, Hegseth argued that Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution provides the President with all necessary authorities to "recommence" strikes if deemed necessary.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, has long been a proponent of a "peace through strength" doctrine and has frequently advocated for a more aggressive posture toward Tehran. His stance reflects a broader shift within the current administration toward expansive executive power in foreign policy. However, this view is far from a consensus in Washington. Legal scholars and several members of the Senate have characterized the administration's bypass of the War Powers Resolution as a constitutional overreach that risks dragging the United States into a prolonged conflict without a clear legislative mandate.
The geopolitical stakes are reflected in the volatility of global energy markets. Brent crude oil is currently trading at $108.09 per barrel, as the ongoing Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to choke off approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply. In the metals market, spot gold (XAU/USD) has surged to $4,750 per ounce, driven by a combination of safe-haven demand and a recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. These prices underscore the economic fragility accompanying the military tension; any resumption of strikes would likely send energy costs higher, complicating the administration's domestic economic agenda.
Critics of Hegseth’s position argue that relying solely on Article 2 for sustained operations in Iran is a precarious legal strategy. Senator Murkowski’s inquiry into whether an AUMF would be "helpful" suggests a growing unease among even some Republicans regarding the lack of a formal partnership between the White House and Capitol Hill on war-making. Historically, the War Powers Resolution has been a point of contention between the two branches, but the current administration’s explicit dismissal of its 60-day limit represents a particularly sharp break from traditional inter-branch protocol.
The administration’s massive $1.5 trillion budget request for 2027 further complicates the narrative. While Hegseth frames the need for unilateral authority as a matter of national security and tactical flexibility, the sheer scale of the defense spending suggests a long-term preparation for high-intensity regional conflict. If the ceasefire fails and U.S. President Trump chooses to act on the "authorities" Hegseth described, the absence of a congressional vote could lead to a constitutional crisis alongside a military one.
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