Washington – Michigan U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett introduced legislation in Congress Thursday morning that would authorize military operations in Iran but limit their scope and impose a 90-day deadline to end the war, saying the president can’t continue to wage war overseas without involving Congress.
«I think we’re very close to a breakthrough in Iran. That’s my hope and continued prayer that we’re able to do that,» Barrett told The Detroit News. «But I also believe that Congress has a role in authorizing this if that’s the will of the people.»
The measure from the Charlotte Republican lawmaker would specifically authorize President Donald Trump for 90 days to use military force to demolish or degrade Iran’s nuclear program, enforce a blockade of Iranian ports and allow for the safe passage of U.S. and allied ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
But it denies authorization for putting troops on the ground in Iran, nation-building, or occupying or holding territory within Iran, according to the text of Barrett’s bill.
«I felt in my time in the military, as we were going about these global war conflicts, we didn’t really have a clearly defined mission, and we really didn’t have a clearly defined end goal or termination point,» said Barrett, an Army veteran who campaigned against «endless» wars.
«This authorization that I’ve introduced today has both of those … because I think those have been absent in conflicts in the past.»
The legislation appears to be the first authorization of military force introduced for Iran, where fighting has been mostly paused since the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 to permit more peace talks.
He used a 90-day deadline for ending military action, though he hopes it won’t take that long.
«If you had told me in 2005 or 2010 or 2015 that we were still years away from the wind-down of the war in Afghanistan, that just would have seemed preposterous,» he said.
«And yet there was no congressional limit placed on the timeline in Afghanistan in that 2001 authorization (of military force). I think if Congress had put in place a timeline to have a renewal, to have a review of that, I don’t think the war would have taken 20 years.»
Barrett’s measure comes after Trump on May 1 hit a key milestone in the Iran war under the 1973 War Powers Resolution that limits the administration’s use of force without authorization from Congress. That statute provides a 60-day clock for the president to end the use of force unless Congress has declared war or authorized the use of military force. That 60-day clock expired on May 1 in Iran.
The 90-day authorization set forth under Barrett’s bill would sunset July 30, backdating the start to May 1. It also provides for a limited, 30-day «wind-down» period to end deployment or military engagement.
Trump has said he does not need to seek approval from Congress for the Iran war and pointed to previous presidents having done the same with prior conflicts.
«Let me just tell you, on the war powers, so many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it,» Trump said on May 1 at the White House. «It’s never been used. It’s never been adhered to. And every other president considered it totally unconstitutional. And we agree with that.»
Earlier this year, Barrett voted against three war powers resolutions that sought to end Trump’s military actions against Iran. Asked Thursday if he’d continue to do so, Barrett said he’d consider each vote on its merits.
«I’ve got to examine that as it comes along,» he said.
«But I do believe that now that the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Act has expired…
mburke@detroitnews.com
May 7, 2026, 13:01:54 +0000
Updated May 7, 2026, 18:35:38 +0000
