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.
4,757 Articles
It’s Time to Pass Legislation Governing a Key Part of the Government’s Hacking Policy
An example of the splash screen from the Petya malware that was suspected of relying on an exploit developed by the U.S. National Security Agency. It’s well known that government…
Why the Laws of War Apply to Drone Strikes Outside “Areas of Active Hostilities” (A Memo to the Human Rights Community)
Reports that the White House is poised to revise a four-year old set of policy restrictions on drone strikes and other lethal operations has generated a heated debate that turns…
Acknowledging the Harm Done to Civilians by the U.S.-Led Coalition in Syria
Ahed is an 11 year-old Syrian girl whose life was upended on the evening of March 20 when an airstrike hit the school near Raqqa where she and her family had sought shelter. Ahed…
The Increasingly Unsettling Indifference Toward the US Citizen “Enemy Combatant”
It’s now been over three weeks since an American citizen who is being held by the United States in military detention as an “enemy combatant” after allegedly…
Why Posse Comitatus is Not Immediately Applicable to the Military’s Mission in Puerto Rico
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States where 3.4 million U.S. citizens reside, is suffering a humanitarian crisis following Hurricane Maria. Lt. Gen.…
Evidence Mounts that White House Anticipates Damaging Results from Russia Investigation
As the Russia investigations by special counsel Robert Mueller and Congress plow ahead, are there telltale signs that the White House is worried about the eventual findings? According…
How US Surveillance Helps Repressive Regimes—the Ethiopia Case
Recent stories from Edward Snowden’s disclosures show how the US government’s involvement with Ethiopia presents a case study in enabling repressive regimes to carry out…
Abandoning Iranian Nuclear Deal Could Lead to New Wave of Cyberattacks
Over the last two years, U.S. banks and government agencies have enjoyed a notable respite from malicious Iranian cyber activity. The timing of this drop-off happens to coincide…
Easing Restrictions on US Killings Outside War Zones Would be a Serious Mistake
President Donald Trump is poised to rescind some of the key rules crafted by the Obama administration that restrain the use of armed drones and other lethal operations outside…
A Scrivener’s Error That Swallows the New Entry Suspensions?
One provision of the President’s new Proclamation (a/k/a “Entry Ban No. 3”) has confused me since I reported on it here earlier this week. As I explained in my…
Corporate Liability for Human Rights Violations: A Preview of Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC
Ed. note. This post is the first in our series on the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case Jesner. v. Arab Bank, a case with implications for everything from human rights to terrorism…
The Jones Act and Puerto Rico: ‘National Security’ Protectionism
A container ship is seen docked at the port of San Juan as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on September 25, 2017 in San Juan Puerto Rico. As Puerto Rico faces…