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.
4,605 Articles
Why Does Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Say He Felt No Pressure From Trump?
Ukraine’s new president has played along with Trump -- in their July 25 phone call and in remarks since then. That has allowed the Trump-Giuliani camp to cite his statements…
How Trump Could Really End “Endless Wars”
If Trump were serious about his professed desire to end endless wars, he would offer a responsible plan for repealing the statutory authorization that three successive administrations…
A Game-Changing Provision in the House Impeachment Resolution
The measure would keep Trump’s lawyers from participating in the impeachment process if the White House continues to refuse to produce documents and bar witnesses from testifying,…
Exclusive: White House Ignored Pentagon Warning on Ukraine Funding
The Pentagon warned the White House over the summer that if the Ukraine funding wasn’t released by August 6, DoD would be at risk of violating the law.
Why Officials Keep Testifying Despite White House Counsel’s Letter on Impeachment Inquiry
"These are presumably not the results White House Counsel Cipollone expected when he sent his letter, but in retrospect they seem fairly predictable."
How Trump’s Gilding the Lily on Baghdadi Death Will Return to Haunt Americans
I handled State Dept’s public messaging after we killed bin Laden. I know the risks.
Assessing the Legal Landscape of Family Separation in the Immigration Context
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen was interviewed this week as part of FORTUNE’s “Most Powerful Women Summit” in Washington. Nielsen, who seemed nonplussed…
George Washington’s Advisors Agreed: Impeachment Did Away with Executive Privilege
George Washington clearly signaled that executive privilege would not be available if the House were pursuing an impeachment inquiry. His advisors agreed.
United States of America v. Rudolph W. Giuliani
Former U.S. Attorneys draft a "Model Indictment" based on publicly available evidence of Giuliani's misconduct.
GOP “Storming” of Secure Facility for Impeachment Proceedings: An Explainer
How does a "SCIF" work, and can members of Congress be penalized for their en masse protest of testimony in the House impeachment investigation?
Trump Views U.S. Taxpayer Dollars As His Personal Checkbook
For Trump, congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars are his to do with as he pleases.
Abandoning Open Skies: Trump Would Be Squandering More of Our Security Inheritance
Rumors have been swirling about President Donald Trump deciding to withdraw the United States from the Open Skies Treaty. Congress, our allies and the public have been kept in…