Senate Republicans

President Donald Trump took the United States to war without a vote of support from Congress. Now, lawmakers are increasingly questioning when, how and at what cost the war with Iran will come to an end. Under the War Powers Act, the president can engage in military operations for 60 days without approval from Congress. As that deadline approaches, some lawmakers want more information on the goals and an exit plan. Meanwhile, a $200 billion request from the Pentagon for war funds is circulating, oil prices are spiking and thousands of U.S. troops are deploying to the Middle East.

A bipartisan group of senators has plans to visit Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Their aim is to bolster U.S. alliances that are seen as important to countering China. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced the trip Saturday. The New Hampshire Democrat will be joined by Republicans John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Democrat Jacky Rosen of Nevada. Their visits to Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul are coming before President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing in May for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The senators' stop in Taiwan could draw scrutiny from China. Beijing sees such U.S. ties as a challenge to China's claim of sovereignty over the self-governing island.