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.
4,514 Articles
When Intelligence Stops Bounding Uncertainty: The Dangerous Tilt Toward Politicization under Trump
In a system where assessments are filtered to support policy, the next intelligence failure will not be a surprise, but a choice.
A Strategic Pivot is Needed for Long-term Peace and Stability in Yemen
To establish peace in the Red Sea region, the Trump administration must invest in Yemeni pro-democracy groups & move away from military force.
The Mounting Crisis of Militarizing Immigration Enforcement
When part-time soldiers police their neighbors, federal authority displaces state and local officials, and strains civil-military relations.
“The Insurrection Act” by Any Other Name: Unpacking Trump’s Memorandum Authorizing Domestic Deployment of the Military
"The Memorandum ... raises many of the same concerns as an Insurrection Act invocation would, and that could end up looking quite similar in practice."
Relocating Nationwide Injunctions
Consolidating cases allows a clear, expedited path to Supreme Court review, helping quickly address matters involving executive orders.
Unequal Before the Law: How Trump’s Death Penalty Order Codifies Dangerous Speech
Tying the harshest punishment the state can impose to the identity of the accused is dangerous speech that can increase the risk of intergroup violence.
What Just Happened: The Tariff Litigation Advances
A recent U.S. Court of International Trade ruling may distract more than it changes the course of U.S. President Trump's trade policy.
Big Tents and Collective Action Can Defeat Authoritarianism
The journey from individual angst to collective action and shared humanity takes time, vision, and commitment. Cases around the world show it is also the pathway to victory.
Too Big to Be Lawful: A Federal Court Halts Mass Layoffs Across the Civil Service
A recent court decision has made clear that reorganizing the federal government can't proceed through backdoor executive planning.
What are “Wartime Authorities” and When Can the President Use Them? An Expert Q&A
It is essential to understand the line between war and peace, scrutinize the application of wartime powers, and interrogate the president’s assertions when he triggers them.
Civil Society is Mounting a Resistance to Trump—Business Leaders Must Follow Suit
Business leaders face now face a pivotal choice: unite to defend democracy or stay passive. They should look to civil society for inspiration on how to take meaningful action.
What Just Happened: The Trump Administration’s Dismissal of Voting Rights Lawsuits
Retreat from voting rights enforcement and efforts to tighten access to the ballot mark a rupture with the Civil Rights Division’s traditional role.