Washington, D.C: President Donald Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — have reignited intense legal and political debate in the US about the limits of presidential war powers and the role of Congress in authorizing military action.
The airstrikes, seen as the most direct US intervention yet in the Iran-Israel conflict, were not preceded by a formal declaration of war, raising sharp questions about constitutional authority, the 1973 War Powers Resolution, and whether Trump’s unilateral military action could lead to Congressional pushback or even impeachment.
What Is the War Powers Resolution?
The War Powers Resolution (WPR) — also known as the War Powers Act — was enacted by Congress in 1973 in response to unchecked presidential military actions during the Vietnam War.
The law was designed to rein in the executive branch by:
- Requiring the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying armed forces.
- Limiting military engagement to 60 days without formal Congressional approval.
- Allowing an additional 30-day withdrawal period for safe disengagement.
Though intended as a constitutional check, presidents from both parties have often contested or circumvented the WPR, citing executive privilege and national security concerns.
The Constitutional Division of War Powers
Under the US Constitution:
- Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the sole power to declare war.
- Article II, Section 2 names the President as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
This dual structure was created to ensure that decisions to go to war would reflect democratic consensus. However, modern warfare and executive decision-making have blurred these lines.
Trump’s Iran Strike: A Violation or Justified Defense?
The Trump administration has defended the strikes as “limited and targeted,” carried out in coordination with Israel to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities.
Despite this justification, the lack of Congressional involvement has drawn comparisons to past unauthorized military actions — including Trump’s own airstrikes in Syria in 2017 and 2018, and other conflicts (Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea) that proceeded without formal war declarations.
Can Trump Be Impeached Over Iran Strikes?
Technically, yes. Congress can initiate impeachment if it believes the President has violated the Constitution or laws like the War Powers Resolution. However, impeachment remains a highly political process, requiring:
- A majority vote in the House of Representatives.
- A two-thirds vote in the Senate for conviction and removal.
No US president has ever been impeached for unauthorized military action, despite similar criticisms against Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
What’s Next?
While Trump insists the US “does not seek regime change” in Iran, and has hailed the strikes as a “historic moment” to curb nuclear escalation, Iran has vowed reprisals and hinted at broader regional instability.
Moving forward, Congress may seek to reassert its authority through:
- New legislation to limit future military action.
- Imposing budgetary constraints on defense operations.
- In extreme cases, pursuing impeachment proceedings, though that path remains politically fraught.
For now, the strikes have put the War Powers Resolution back in the spotlight — raising fundamental questions about who in the US government gets to decide when and how the nation goes to war.