Utah Sen. John Curtis says he is engaging in early conversations about how to get Congress to vote on authorizing military operations in Iran, particularly after weekend strikes resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members.
Curtis told the Deseret News he is “constantly evaluating and constantly searching” for Congress’ role in the conflict that has now stretched past four months despite President Donald Trump initially promising it would only last a few weeks. While the Utah senator did not share specific plans about what that role should be, Curtis said lawmakers need to reclaim their authority.
“I think it’s clear that it is time for Congress to act,” Curtis said. “That doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily acting (by) restraining the president, but it’s acting (by) defining what this looks like — and there’s no manual for that.”
That battle for jurisdiction has long been a game of tug-of-war between Congress and the White House. But Congress holds the sole power to declare war, meaning lawmakers need to reassert their jurisdiction, Curtis argued.
“It’s not something that Congress has really ever been able to figure out,” he said. “It’s a constant tug and pull between Congress declaring war and the president being the commander in chief. But in my opinion, we should be in tandem with the administration and be doing more than we’re doing.”
There are several ways to do that, Curtis said, whether it’s by formally declaring war or simply authorizing the president to use military force without that declaration.
Curtis began considering pathways for Congress to get involved months ago when the conflict in Iran first surpassed the 60 day mark. Under the War Powers Act, the president is required to notify Congress within 48 hours of launching a military attack, and U.S. forces can only stay in the area for 60 days.
The president has the ability to extend that window for another 30 days, but any longer than that would require congressional approval. Trump declared a preliminary, albeit delicate, ceasefire in April before notifying Congress that military operations restarted in mid-July — throwing that 60-90 day window in question.
Curtis previously told the Deseret News the temporary pause does not restart the clock as a new conflict.
Curtis had engaged in conversations with his colleagues in April about drafting a formal authorization for the use of military force (AUMF), which would require congressional approval for Trump to engage in conflict in Iran.
The Utah senator told the Deseret News on Monday those conversations are at a “very beginning standpoint” after the deaths of U.S. servicemembers over the weekend.
It’s not clear if Curtis will push for a vote allowing Congress to weigh in on the war before the Senate leaves for its annual August recess in three weeks. But the junior Utah senator has cited concerns of a lack of congressional oversight this far into the war.