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
How the Pentagon Made Transgender Rights Disappear
The Pentagon's new limits on transgender military service amount to a ban that is anything but "gender-blind."
Assange Indictment Is Shot Across the Bow of Press Freedom
"The indictment seems to have been drafted not just to justify the prosecution of Assange but to tar legitimate journalistic activities by association with Assange’s alleged…
Transparency on Civilian Harm in Somalia Matters – Not Just to Americans
"Under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, much of the commentary on the use of lethal force in counterterrorism operations has focused on the importance of transparency…
The Pentagon Wants to Streamline Security Clearances by Using AI. That’s a Dangerous Idea.
If DoD's new autonomous system goes awry, it could embed bias and a resistance to oversight. Is existence alone might jeopardize civil liberties, modify subjects’ behavior in…
Barr the Redactor?
[April 7 UPDATES noted.] In his March 29 letter, Attorney General William Barr informed the Chairs of the congressional Judiciary Committees that the report Special Counsel Robert…
Norms Watch: Damage to Democracy and Rule of Law in March 2019
Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of those norms in reactions…
The Limited War Powers Precedent of the Korean “Police Action”
In a recent piece in the Washington Post, Professor Mary Dudziak drew attention to the Executive Branch’s continued reliance upon President Truman’s police action on the Korean…
What Has Bill Barr Done to Earn the Benefit of the Doubt?
Luppe Luppen critiques James Comey's and Benjamin Wittes's claim that the public should assume good faith on the part of Bill Barr.
U.S. Denial of Safe Harbor Compounds Venezuela’s Crisis
Even as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens military force to achieve the regime change he’s calling for in Venezuela, his administration has accelerated deportations from…
A Public-Health Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
The recent horrific attack on two mosques in New Zealand has again prompted criticism that the United States and the international community fail to address violence committed…
Costs of War Can’t Be Assessed Without Official Civilian Casualty Estimates
A response to Maj. General Charles Dunlap and others who argue that tracking civilian casualties is like tallying "body counts" in Vietnam.
The House Oversight Committee Squeeze on White House Security Practices
Over the last several weeks, the House Oversight and Reform Committee has been busy documenting allegations from a whistleblower who stepped forward to raise concerns about security…