US Congress moves to curb Trump's war powers following Iran ceasefire

Washington D.C. Hours after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, efforts have begun in the US Congress to curb his war powers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he would introduce a proposal next week to prevent war against Iran and mandate prior Congressional approval for any future attacks.

At a press conference in New York, Schumer emphasized that Congress must reassert its constitutional authority at this dangerous juncture. The ceasefire came shortly after Trump threatened to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure and end an entire civilization. 

Schumer labeled Trump's remarks as 'unbalanced' and 'erratic,' arguing that the conflict neither weakened the Iranian government nor halted its nuclear program, but instead caused public hardship by driving up global fuel prices. The Trump administration is portraying the conflict as a decisive victory. The White House claims the President's actions were entirely legal and that, as Commander-in-Chief, he retains the authority to deploy military force to protect the nation. 

However, Democratic lawmakers have gone as far as calling for Trump's removal. Trump is facing global criticism, particularly for his threats to attack civilian infrastructure, which critics argue is a direct violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also stated that a vote must be held to permanently end Trump's reckless and unilateral war. Although the US Constitution grants the power to declare war solely to Congress, Presidents have historically made unilateral decisions by citing short-term military operations and immediate security threats. 

While such proposals have failed in the past due to the slim Republican majority in Congress, the humanitarian and economic crisis sparked by the current conflict has prompted Democrats to renew their strategy to restrain Trump.