The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny during a Capitol Hill hearing as he blocked all public questions about potential strikes on Iran, insisting such discussions belonged in classified settings. This came amid a constitutional clash, with senators like Tim Kaine asserting Congress’s sole authority to authorise offensive military action, while Trump allies cited historical precedents for unilateral presidential strikes. The debate reflects decades of eroded war powers, stretching from Bush’s post-9/11 AUMFs to Obama’s unauthorised campaigns in Libya and Yemen. With resolutions to reclaim congressional authority lacking veto-proof support, the hearing exposed stark divisions – particularly over whether targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities constitutes “limited” action. Hegseth’s testimony underscored how successive administrations have expanded executive war powers, giving Trump significant latitude to act without approval. As lawmakers prepare to debate the issue next week, the confrontation highlights both institutional decay and the immediate stakes of potential conflict with Iran.
Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi reports from Washington, DC.
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