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.
4,711 Articles
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…
Trump’s Endgame for the War in Ukraine
An exploration of how bargains between Trump and Putin may play out in negotiations to end Russia's war, and the consequences for the vital interests of Ukraine.
Can the President Dismantle the Department of Education by Executive Order?
An Executive Order that purports to dismantle the Department of Education or any of its key functions is sure to be challenged in court but would still create disruptions and other…
The Disastrous Costs of the Foreign Aid Freeze on US Interests in the Middle East and North Africa
The Trump administration's dismantling of USAID poses significant threats to security in the Middle East and North Africa.