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.
4,711 Articles
Peace in Afghanistan: Showmanship over Substance
It is clear why it is in the best interests of both the Taliban and the Trump administration to maintain the masquerade despite ongoing Taliban and Haqqani attacks targeting both…
The Defense Department’s Measured Take on International Law in Cyberspace
A close reading of the Defense Department's statement on cyber by top expert, comparing it to positions of Australia, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom and others.
Law Enforcement’s Facial Recognition Law-lessness: Comparing European and US Approaches
"There’s a grave threat to individual liberty, privacy, and racial justice. A balance needs to be struck. But it will not be struck by continuing to act lawlessly, which is to…
Preventing and Responding to Civilian Casualties: An Upcoming Discussion on Law, Policy, and Progress
Civilian casualties are inevitable in armed conflict. Nonetheless, international law requires armed forces to distinguish between civilians and lawful military objectives, and…
About Those FBI Counterterrorism Assessments …
Will a recent inspector general report encourage the FBI to be more, not less, aggressive in the use of Type III assessments in counterterrorism cases without adequate constitutional…
Russian Cyber Attacks Against Georgia, Public Attributions and Sovereignty in Cyberspace
"The attack on Georgia shows the opportunity costs of states not firmly grounding their reactions in the language of international law."
Revised Justice Department Policy Still Silences Immigration Judges
Some of the sharpest critics of the Trump administration’s immigration policies are the former immigration judges who were once charged with enforcing them. But there’s a reason…
A Model for Countering Foreign Disinformation and Interference in Elections
There’s a model the U.S. government applied in the counterterrorism context that provides a potential template for addressing the election interference threat over the long run.
The Gravity of Michael Ellis’ Promotion to Senior Director for Intelligence at the White House
The person just put in charge of intelligence at the NSC was credibly accused of abusing the classification system in the Ukraine matter, and was even personally named in the articles…
Legacy of Late State Department Human Rights Champion Tex Harris Reverberates Today
The recent passing of F. Allen “Tex” Harris, a retired diplomat who repeatedly risked his career and life to serve on the “front lines” of President Jimmy Carter’s human…
When the Abnormal Becomes Typical: Clinging to Memories of Normalcy Three Years into the Trump Administration
"Three years ago tonight, I took one last look back at the White House, lit brilliantly against the night sky, as I walked out the front gates onto Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s…
Congress Needs a “Rocket Docket” for Its Disputes With the President
A rocket docket could have prevented many of the abuses seen during the Trump administration, would reduce the likelihood of future abuses, and will enhance Congress’ ability…