# War Powers Resolution Is Dead — Cato Fellow Calls for a New One 

Today, there are a rare few members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who initiate votes under the War Powers Resolution from a genuine commitment to restoring the separation of powers on matters of war.

May 6, 2026 • News Releases 

As President Donald Trump and his administration continue the war with Iran, May 1 marked 60-days since the start of the conflict. Despite reaching this 60-day threshold, Congress has yet to constrain the President’s power.

A new [blog post](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fobituary-war-powers-resolution/1/0100019dfdbd9c2c-561214f0-d999-4fcc-a5d2-abd9594a5a0f-000000/e0o4cWLwRFILSsgR3Q2g2ug75Gs=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjQ5NWYxYzUxZTBmNWIxZWIxYTk2NzEyOGQzN2NlZTYwOjc6ODc4MTpjN2RhMTlmZTY1ZTZmNTgyOWJjYTdhYTM1NTUxYWQ0ZjgwNWM2MmQzMWI1NjMwMmVjYWI4ZDI3MDE5ODEzNTM3Omg6VDpO) by [Katherine Thompson](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fkatherine-thompson/1/0100019dfdbd9c2c-561214f0-d999-4fcc-a5d2-abd9594a5a0f-000000/s9XLPRBFjFC2kGMREtYe50DafZc=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjQ5NWYxYzUxZTBmNWIxZWIxYTk2NzEyOGQzN2NlZTYwOjc6MzM4ZDpmMDQzNWJhOWQzN2M0NjBmYjc5NDBkMmE4YzJkNGRmOWQ3NmZkYzEzZTFiYmYzOGNiZGM3N2ZmYjU0ZGFjM2QzOmg6VDpO), a senior fellow in defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, argues it is time for Congress to repeal the War Powers Resolution and develop a new and improved tool in its place, writing in part:

> Today, there are a rare few members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who initiate votes under the War Powers Resolution from a genuine commitment to restoring the separation of powers on matters of war. But no matter how noble the intent, the War Powers Resolution as a tool no longer works. The time has come to lay the War Powers Resolution to rest and start from scratch in developing a new tool to check the modern American president.

To speak with Thompson further on the War Powers Resolution, contact Cato PR at [pr@​cato.​org](mailto:pr@cato.org).