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
Civilian Casualties: A Case for U.S. Condolence Payments in Syria
The U.S. military acknowledges it unintentionally killed 40 civilians in a 2017 air strike, but rejects appeals to help those who survived.
The Soleimani Strike and War Powers
Key Legal Questions, With Preview of a New Research Database
United States Killed Iraqi Military Official and Iraqi Military Personnel in the Two Recent Attacks
"If these dimensions of the unfolding events are not properly understood by U.S. decision makers and the media, the currently highly volatile situation—between the United States,…
The Missing Assistant Secretary of Defense and the Soleimani Strike
Government officials will be working around the clock in the coming days to keep Americans safe and manage the fallout. It’s highly unfortunate that one critical voice will be…
Trump Loved “His Generals”—Until He Got To Know Them
The caricature of a “a gruff, tough-guy persona" with powerful toys lay at the heart of the contradiction Trump promised as a candidate in 2016.
The Generals Aren’t the Problem; An Ill-Informed Commander-in-Chief Is
Peter Bergen's new book shows how Trump sows divisions in the armed forces and undercuts the military ethos for inclusive decision-making.
Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon’s Legal Concerns
Just Security has viewed unredacted emails, which tell the behind-the-scenes story of the defense and budget officials who had to carry out the president’s unexplained hold on…
The Monsey Attack: What’s the basis for the federal charges against Grafton Thomas?
"The government's decision to use Section 247 but not Section 249 will probably make successful prosecution more difficult, for several reasons."
The Inevitable Day of Reckoning in Syria
President Trump's decision to disengage with the YPG and ultimately side with Turkey was rash and immoral, yet fundamentally inevitable.
Selective Disclosure of OLC legal Opinions Isn’t Enough
The ad hoc release of OLC opinions raises more fundamental questions about the role of the OLC and the public’s right to know how the executive branch interprets the law.
Why the Settlements are a Problem for Benjamin Netanyahu
Despite the new U.S. position that West Bank settlements are not "per se" illegal, international accountability for Israeli settlement activity remains a real possibility.
The Senate Must Conduct an Impeachment Trial That Is Serious and Fair
The American people deserve an impeachment trial that is fair and serious. The Chief Justice and the members of the Senate should deliver one.