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.
4,594 Articles
Why the Rule of Law Depends on an Evidentiary Hearing in Mayor Eric Adams’ Case
An argument as to why Judge Ho must hold an evidentiary hearing in the Eric Adams case.
What Just Happened: Musk-OPM Send Email to Federal Employees Asking for Five Accomplishments
The OPM's recent email and online threat by Elon Musk demonstrate that resignations and layoffs will continue — whether lawful or not.
U.S. Military Action in Mexico: Almost Certainly Illegal, Definitely Counterproductive
U.S. military action in Mexico would not only be illegal, it would sabotage Trump’s stated immigration policy priorities and could lead to retaliation against Americans.
Oversight Board’s Watchlist Report Underscores Need for Major Overhaul
The PCLOB's release of its report on terrorist watchlists makes it clear that sweeping changes to the watchlist system are long past due.
The Fundamental Flaws in the Barnett/Wurman Defense of Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Executive Order
"In their apparent effort to give credence to the Trump Executive Order, Professors Barnett and Wurman indefensibly ignore these core, constitutive principles."
Trump’s Doubly Flawed “Invasion” Theory
The president is wrong about what an invasion is—and what powers it triggers.
The Attempt to Purge Trans Members from the Armed Forces
The effort to purge all trans people from the military is not merely a repeat of the struggle that played out during the first Trump administration; it is an attack of a different…
More Territory, More Problems: Can Trump Seize Greenland?
An essay on the lessons for the Trump administration of territorial acquisition from the McKinley era and the dangers it would pose today.
Trump’s Gaza Plan is Absurd and an Affront to International Law
Beyond complicating the chances of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the idea undermines core principles of the international legal order and threatens U.S. interests.
The Just Security Podcast: What Just Happened Series, Understanding Federal Employee Rights
Labor and employment expert Suzanne Summerlin discusses the protections available to federal employees if their rights are violated.
The Resilience of International Law in the Face of Empire
We may be effectively reverting, at least temporarily, to an era of imperial rule. But history has demonstrated that international law has a long memory. Lawyers and historians…
A Nordic ‘Trump-Mitigation’ Strategy Amid a Return of Power Politics
These Northern European States, with their Baltic neighbors, will play a vital role in supporting Ukraine and defending international law amid the emerging instability of the Trump…