Yet the Senate’s vote highlighted how reluctant lawmakers remain to take that step. For two months, Democrats have forced a series of votes aimed at compelling the Administration to either wind down the conflict or seek authorization. Each has failed, revealing the limits of congressional appetite—particularly among Republicans—to directly challenge a President of their own party, particularly on matters of war.
At the same time, the approaching deadline has begun to shift the conversation on Capitol Hill. Several Republicans who opposed the Democratic resolution, including Collins, had previously told TIME they nonetheless view the 60-day mark as legally significant and had been expecting the administration to engage Congress about next steps.
“It’s the law,” Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma told TIME in mid-April of the requirement to authorize continued operations. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina suggested that if the United States plans to remain engaged in Iran beyond the immediate term, Congress should pass a formal authorization. “It all depends on the information that gets conveyed to us about the strategic objectives, the timing, all that stuff needs to come before us,” he told TIME.