In Theory and Practice: The War Powers Act and Presidential War Authorization
In theory, the War Powers Act gives Congress the power to end a war. But our chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, describes how President Trump is the latest president to find ways to engage in war without congressional approval.
Since the passage of the War Powers Act, the relationship between Congress and the President over war authorization has seen significant shifts. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of Congress's constitutional role in declaring war, with several legislative efforts to assert this power. However, executive branch interpretations of the Act remain a point of contention. A 2026 study by the Congressional Research Service found that while Congress has increasingly engaged in oversight and debate, presidential discretion in military matters still outpaces legislative control. This dynamic is further complicated by the rise of asymmetric warfare and the use of drones, which blur the lines of traditional war declaration. Despite these challenges, there is a renewed focus on the War Powers Act as a tool for checking presidential power and ensuring congressional oversight in matters of national security. Read more about the War Powers Act and its implications