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
Today’s Mass Guantanamo Habeas Petition and the Ongoing Human Cost of America’s “Battle Lab”
Today, the Guantanamo prison enters its 17th year. 41 Muslim men still languish there, trapped in an ever-present reminder of their captors’ official experiment with torture.…
Trump Administration Notches a Serious Human Rights Win. No, really.
In meetings I’ve had over the past year with the well-meaning and generally beleaguered Trump administration officials responsible for aspects of the government’s human rights…
Customs and Border Protection’s New Policy for Searching Devices Offers Thin Protection
Ronald D. Vitiello, Acting Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Thomas Homan, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director of Immigration and…
The Steele Dossier in 2018: Everyone’s Favorite Weapon
The so-called Steele dossier has become a political and cultural weapon. For many of us, it is either a salacious outline of heinous presidential crimes or a complete fabrication…
The House Intelligence Committee’s Section 702 Bill is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Image: Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, DNI Daniel Coats, and NSA Director Adm. Michael Rogers testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the…
Parsing Howard Nielson’s Sources: A Thesis Without Support
Image: Committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) speaks with ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) before the start of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol…
Why We Need to Rethink the Mérida Initiative as a Function of National Security
Having suffered a stunning defeat in its efforts to reform healthcare and then securing a resounding win in its pursuit of across-the-board tax cuts, the Trump administration has…
The Big Takeaways from the Latest Obstruction Revelations
As the first week of 2018 comes to an end, the chaos surrounding the Trump administration has reached fever pitch. This is largely thanks to a new book from journalist Michael…
Counter-Terrorism and Crackdowns on Civil Society
As countries around the globe contend with the threat of terrorism, the challenges to civil liberties and civil society have never been greater. Acknowledging the threat posed…
International Criminal Court Indictments of U.S. Officials Are not Impossible
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s long-expected request to open an investigation of U.S. armed forces and the CIA for crimes allegedly committed in Afghanistan…
Alseran v MOD and the Legal Risks in Treating All Captives as Prisoners of War
British and American troops with Iraqi captives in March 2003. (UK MOD) Last month, the English High Court delivered its judgment in favour of the claimants in Alseran and Others…
Mueller Wasn’t Appointed Pursuant to the DOJ Regs (and other assorted flaws in the Manafort suit)
Paul Manafort filed a two-count suit yesterday against Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Count Two challenges Special Counsel Mueller’s…