Executive Branch

Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis of the U.S. executive branch related to national security, rights, and the rule of law. Analysis and informational resources focus on the executive branch’s powers and their limits, and the actions of the president, administrative agencies, and federal officials.

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4,711 Articles
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Chief of Staff Ron Klain and other cabinet members and immigration advisors in the State Dining Room on March 24, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Biden’s First 100 Days on Immigration: A Test of Leadership

The president may ultimately be judged not on any so-called border “crisis,” but for whether he remains true to his principles in the face of opposition.
Razor wire lines the fence of the "Gitmo" maximum security detention center on October 22, 2016 at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A U.S. flag is on the wall behind the fence.

A Letter to President Biden from a Former Intelligence Officer: Close Guantanamo Bay

There is shame in the knowing. There is greater shame in knowing, and doing nothing. Mr. President, you can do something. End this horrible era of American history.
The sign at the FBI headquarters building reads, “J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building.”

Key Takeaways From Latest FISA Court Opinion on Section 702 and FBI Warrantless Queries

A recently declassified FISA Court opinion shows how serious the threat is that Section 702 could be exploited as a loophole for warrantless surveillance in domestic policing.
Migrants from Asia and Africa bundled in scarves and blankets walk in the snow past what remains of the tents of the "Lipa" camp, two weeks after it burnt down on January 8, 2021 near the North-Western Bosnian town of Bihac.

Biden’s Decision to Pull Troops From Afghanistan Risks a Major Refugee Crisis

The US needs a global plan in the event brutal Taliban rule returns -- or even seems likely. An exodus risks upturning Iran, Turkey, and the EU.
Bristish and US envoys to Libyan rebels Christopher Prentice and Chris Stevens attend a press conference of Libyan rebel leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil (not pictured) after his meeting with African head of states, in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, on April 11, 2011. A reporter with a camera sits behind them.

The Need for More Chris Stevenses: A Memorial Lecture at UC Hastings Law

On April 14, UC Hastings Law School hosted the 7th annual Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens Lecture honoring the memory, life, and work of UC Hastings graduate Chris Stevens, who…
Refugees on an inflatable raft in the dark of night.

Biden Approach to Immigration, Outlined at UN Human Rights Council, Leaves Serious Gaps

The administration has the authority to protect people and comply with international law and best practices. That requires concrete steps immediately.
People carry banners as they attend a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Bishkek on March 8, 2021. Some people wear face masks but not all.

High-Level US Attention Needed for a Backsliding Democracy in Central Asia

Voters in Kyrgyzstan approved a referendum on April 11 that expands the president’s powers and threatens the most vibrant civil society in the region.
The U.S. Capitol dome at dusk on April 13, 2021 in Washington, DC.

An Opportunity for Congress to Require Transparency of the Executive’s International Agreements

The newly introduced bipartisan legislation would constitute the most significant improvement in the transparency of international agreements since the enactment of the Case Act…

Biden Team’s Litigation Tactics on Guantanamo Undercut Biden Policy to Close the Prison

The administration's new moves before Supreme Court raise questions about whether it will more broadly decline to use straightforward tools to close Guantanamo and end indefinite…
Protestors hold posters during an anti-corruption rally in Bishkek on December 18, 2019. A poster shows an three images of an official with money in ears, over the eyes, and stuck in his mouth.

Congress Must Stand with Civil Society and Strengthen the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program

Civil society coalitions have made GloMag a powerful tool to curb corruption and human rights abuses. Here's how Congress can sharpen this tool going forward.
President John F. Kennedy's murderer Lee Harvey Oswald during a press conference after his arrest in Dallas.

Federal Agencies Face April Deadline on Secret JFK Files

Congress has mandated that agencies update the public on thousands of files related to the JFK assassination by April 26. Previous disclosures have been incomplete. Will agencies…
A billboard with president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo stands over the empty streets of the new capital city on August 16, 2018 in Oyala, Equatorial Guinea. The dome at the end of the street will be the new house for the president.

Combating Transnational Authoritarian Kleptocracy: Cracking Down on Western Professional Enablers

Effectively battling corruption and human rights abuses requires the tools provided by the Global Magnitsky Act - including the ability to target those who aid money laundering.…
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