U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth Claims Ceasefire Pauses War Powers Clock on Iran Conflict

U.S. military engagement in Iran is nearing the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that an ongoing ceasefire has paused the countdown. This position came during his first congressional appearance since the conflict began, where he faced questions from lawmakers.

Democratic senators argued that the law allows no such interruptions, emphasizing the need for congressional authorization. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 30, Hegseth testified alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.

He described the ceasefire as halting the 60-day clock, which requires the president to withdraw forces unless Congress approves an extension. Foreign Policy and Defense News reported this claim, noting that the resolution's text makes no mention of ceasefires affecting the timeline.

War Powers Debate Intensifies Sen.

Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated on Sunday that there are no 'timeouts' in the War Powers Act. He explained that the 60-day period begins from the start of hostilities and runs continuously. This view contrasts with Hegseth's interpretation, highlighting a potential legal dispute as the deadline approaches. S.

strikes and deployments. A ceasefire took effect, but its impact on legal requirements remains contested. The Hill reported Reed's comments, underscoring that the statute's language does not provide for pauses like in a football game. " — Sen. ), May 2026 (The Hill).

Amid the war, the Pentagon is pushing forward with artificial intelligence implementation across military operations. S. must stay ahead in AI for capabilities like domain awareness and targeting. The department signed deals with seven companies—SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services—to enhance data synthesis and decision-making.

Gregory Allen, former director of strategy and policy for the Defense Department's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, described AI's role in analyzing reconnaissance data. mil platform. Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns about insufficient guardrails.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand highlighted public reports of civilian casualties, including strikes on schools, and pressed for assurances that AI would not make final targeting decisions. Sen. Jacky Rosen sought confirmation on AI's intended uses, while Sen.

Elissa Slotkin has proposed legislation requiring human oversight for autonomous weapons and nuclear decisions.

“We absolutely have to stay ahead. " — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, April 30, 2026 (ABC News). The push follows the end of a previous AI contract with Anthropic, which refused to lift restrictions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Hegseth labeled the company a supply chain risk, barring it from Pentagon business. Allen stated that adversaries like Russia and China are deploying AI-enabled weapons, with Russia using them in Ukraine.”

The Air Force's top general called for supplemental funding to replace dozens of aircraft destroyed during Operation Epic Fury. DefenseOne reported that the 2027 budget request predated these losses, leaving a gap in resources. The request aims to restore capabilities diminished by the conflict. S.

officials told ABC News that the Army has deployed nearly 10,000 AI-powered drones to the Middle East since the war started. These drones, similar to those used in Ukraine against Iranian-made Shahed models, incorporate computer vision for guidance as a cost-effective alternative to pricier missiles like Tomahawks.

U.S. producers to increase output. Diamondback Energy, a major Permian Basin operator, announced it is adding drilling rigs and fracking crews to boost production. The company's CEO, Kaes Van’t Hof, stated in a shareholder letter that the light has turned 'green' for growth, citing a supply-demand imbalance.

Fortune reported that Diamondback's first-quarter output averaged 521,000 barrels per day, exceeding guidance. 9 billion and plans to maintain at least 520,000 barrels daily, up from prior estimates. This move follows hesitation among producers due to the war's potential short-term nature, but bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz have sustained high prices at $105 per barrel on May 4.

8 million barrels daily this year. Continental Resources has also increased activity. Diamondback shifted from cutting rigs last year amid tariffs and OPEC production to now operating 17 or 18 rigs. President Donald Trump stated in an April interview that lethal AI decisions would remain with humans, specifically the president. S.

guidance for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, addressing the closure that affects 20% of global oil flow.