Congress
Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis of U.S. Congress’ role in national security, foreign affairs, the rule of law, and rights. Coverage includes analysis and informational resources related to the legislative process, oversight and investigations of the executive branch, and major debates on the separation of powers and Congress’ constitutional role.
2,559 Articles
The Progressive Defense Budget
According to a June 5 Communications Office of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) memo, the HASC will be marking up the FY2021 defense budget for the rest of this month.…
Specific Questions for Congress (and News Media) to Ask Attorney General Barr
Former Department of Justice, FBI, and Pentagon officials have specific questions to ask Bill Barr. Plus an invitation for readers to send in their questions to add to the list.
Make Democracy and Governance a Keystone of the US Global Fragility Strategy
The US too often views its work on fragile or failed states as "fixing" various sectors, without enough focus on the political dynamics underneath.
Redactions in CDC Communications Policies Leave Key Questions Unanswered
Newly released CDC documents — via FOIA — confirm Office of Vice President’s involvement in CDC COVID-19 communications, leave important details concealed, and raise First…
The Untold Power of Bill Barr to Direct US Military Forces in Case of “Civil Unrest”
Whether deployed against protests for racial justice or deployed to interfere with free and fair elections in November, the US military operations would be led by Bill Barr, not…
Yes, Congress, There Is Something You Can Do About Reckless Arms Sales
Recently proposed sales are particularly problematic given reports of unlawful retransfers and irresponsible, if not illegal, end use by both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.…
Ignore Trump’s Twitter Tantrum Executive Order and Address Disinformation Instead
The solution is not to give government or platforms more power to make opaque, arbitrary decisions on content, but to help users protect themselves.
The President and the Domestic Deployment of the Military: Answers to Five Key Questions
Can President Trump use the military without governors' consent? What are the rules for the use of force?
A Deep Dive into Canada’s Overhaul of Its Foreign Intelligence and Cybersecurity Laws
Following the release of documents by Edward Snowden, many of the Western governments whose agencies’ activities were implicated in the leaks raced to update and modernize their…
A Bipartisan Push in Congress to Fight the ‘Parallel Pandemic’ of Human Rights Abuses Abroad
Legislation would improve US support to rights defenders, journalists, and marginalized groups fighting authoritarian abuses of emergency powers abroad.
Understanding the Michael Flynn Case: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff, and the Proper from the Improper
What follows is an effort to identify and evaluate many of the most important aspects of the Flynn affair, roughly in chronological order from the Summer of 2016 to today.
State’s Selective Cooperation with Congress Raises Legal Questions that Demand Answers
The State Department appears to be engaged in coordinated cooperation with an oversight investigation designed to harm Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, while ignoring…