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.

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4,597 Articles
US President Donald Trump addresses senior military officers gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the US military must fix "decades of decay" as he addressed a rare gathering of hundreds of senior officers summoned from around the world to hear him speak near Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The Crisis in Uniform: The Danger of Presidential Immunity for the U.S. Military

Military personnel are increasingly alert to the prospect that they may be asked to prioritize loyalty to an individual over their legal rights and responsibilities.

The Trump Administration’s Use of State Power Against Media: Keeping Track of the Big Picture

Tracking the use of State power requires systematically identifying linkages between individual developments and broader trends. This graphic offers one method.
Top shot of Pamela Bondi before the Senate Judiciary Committee

What the Senate Judiciary Committee Should Ask A.G. Bondi on Drug Cartel Strikes

Annotated questions Congress should be asking about U.S. military strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City

Legal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Notice to Congress on “Armed Conflict” with Drug Cartels

The Trump administration’s “armed conflict” justification, however, is groundless.

Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers

Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.
Visualization of a brain and artificial intelligence

AI’s Hidden National Security Cost

Generative AI is being integrated across the federal workplace, but efficiency gains risk weakening national security professionals’ critical thinking and judgment.
The U.S. Supreme Court at night.

Taking Stock of the Birthright Citizenship Cases, Part IV: DOJ’s Ineffective Responses to Plaintiffs’ Statutory Argument

Analysis of birthright citizenship statutory arguments now before the Supreme Court.

FAQ for Senior Military Officers at Hegseth’s Quantico Meeting

Military justice expert Eugene Fidell answers crucial questions ahead of next week's senior military meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an Executive Orde

Repression as Rescue: The Authoritarian Logic of Trump’s Early Executive Orders

The rhetorical threats Trump employed during his campaign are directly echoed in the titles and content of his second-term EOs.
Binders of executive orders stacked on a desk.

Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions

Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
Military justice image

US Servicemembers’ Exposure to Criminal Liability for Lethal Strikes on Narcoterrorists

Analysis by former career judge advocate officer and former court-martial prosecutor.
Detained people are standing in front of a building behind a metal, possibly chain link, fence that appears nearly three times taller than they are and topped with concertina wire.

Private Prison Companies’ Enormous Windfall: Who Stands to Gain as ICE Expands

With unparalleled funding for ICE, corporations supporting the growth of detention infrastructure will continue to see soaring profits.
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