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.

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US Department of State building with sign in front

The US State Department Should Prioritize the Human Rights Reporting Gateway

The Human Rights Reporting Gateway can help the State Department enforce the Leahy law by providing key information from NGOs and victims.
The two men in the photo are standing next to each other, holding each other's forearms and looking toward the camera, with newly inaugurated President Felix Tshisekedi on the right wearing the inaugural sash of red trimmed in blue.

The First Trump Administration Used Sanctions Effectively in Africa. Here’s How That Can Resume in the Second Term.

The Trump administration can open up other opportunities to advance broader policy, national security, and even economic objectives.

Does the Int’l Criminal Court Impose Too Low a Standard of Proof to Arrest a Head of State?

Whether the International Criminal Court should require a higher standard of proof - than “reasonable grounds to believe" - before arresting a head of state.
The photo shows two soldiers in camouflage uniforms and helmets sitting next to each other in the open-top assault vehicle. The one on the left is saluting.

Biden’s Unfinished Business: A Bridge to Shore Up a European Flank – in the Balkans

Temporary US troops could restore stability and thwart Serb political leaders threatening secession amid the EU Force's weakened deterrence.
A group of protestors by the gates of the Sde Teman military base in Israel.

A Model Leahy Law Legal Memo on Assistance to Israeli Security Forces

A model Department of Defense action memo illustrates what a faithful application of the Leahy law to an alleged gross human rights violation in Israel would look like.
The photo shows a large crowd filling a street at night, with streetlights along the right side and the white flag with red cross of Georgia alongside the EU's blue flag with yellow stars. It's clearly cold, as people are wearing hats and heavy coats.

Georgia Risks Falling to a Violent One-Party Regime. The Biden Administration Must Act Now to Stop Its Slide.

The US is failing to forcefully respond to brutality against protesters opposing the Georgian ruling party's move to end EU accession talks.
Image of the CIA agency logo on the tiled floor.

The Right Questions on Havana Syndrome and Where to Go from Here

Have attacks really occurred, has the CIA met its obligations towards those injured in the line of duty, have its investigations been credible, and is there a better approach?
Donald Trump sits with Thomas Homan, who is speaking.

The Public Framing of Mass Deportation

The Trump administration will be pressured to rely on deceptive representations of what exactly its deportation programs entail.
The officers are arrayed next to each other against a solid dark backdrop, with the woman on the left and the four men to the viewer's right.

Interpol General Assembly Inches Forward on Transparency, Still Needs Reform Strategy

Amid a trend toward more openness in the police-coordination agency, further action is needed to prevent abuse of systems such as red notices.
Federal government office in Washington, D.C.

Treasury’s Reversal on Sanctions Authority Is a Victory for Free Speech

OFAC’s reversal is a victory for free speech that ensures Americans can continue to engage with people and ideas from around the world.
The photo shows the backs of three figures standing in a street in the dark, one wearing a white flag with a red cross on it, with explosions of what looks like fireworks, apparently weapons fire, in the background.

Open Letter on Georgia from Former US Diplomats

Former US officials working on Georgian-US relations condemn violent crackdown on protesters in Tbilisi and recommend US policy measures.
On the left, the lower body of a soldier holding a rifle behind a fence. One the right, a white truck.

Deployment of the U.S. Military for Immigration Enforcement: A Primer

An expert explainer by leading expert on the domestic deployment of the U.S. military.
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