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.
4,622 Articles
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s War with the Rules of Engagement
Hegseth’s attack on the ROE demonstrates a dangerously limited – and legally incorrect – view about these rules and what they are for.
Some Questions About Trump’s Order Pledging to Defend Qatar’s Security
Trump's Executive Order on Qatar raises a number of important legal and policy questions that merit careful consideration by Congress and the public.
The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part II — What We Know about U.S. Vessel Strikes One Month In
Tess Bridgeman and Rachel Goldbrenner are joined by Rebecca Ingber and Brian Finucane to analyze the facts, the law, and implications of U.S. killings in the Caribbean.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
US Servicemembers’ Exposure to Criminal Liability for Lethal Strikes on Narcoterrorists
Analysis by former career judge advocate officer and former court-martial prosecutor.