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
Expert Explainer: The US for the first time submits a formal brief to the International Criminal Court on the ‘Situation in Palestine’
A Q&A with Todd Buchwald, former U.S. Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. Department of State.
A Presidential Proclamation to End the Iraq War: Unilateral Executive Action to Defang a Zombie AUMF
President Biden should proclaim the conflict authorized by the 2002 resolution to be over and determine that it is no longer “necessary and appropriate” to use force for the…
US Is Finally Aiding Stranded Afghan Allies, But Congress Needs to Step Up
Crucial bipartisan legislation has been stalled for years, placing the burden of care on hardworking Americans instead.
Revoking the 9/11 Plea Deals: Human Rights Consequences
Defense Secretary Austin's decision to discard the 9/11 plea deals at the Guantanamo military commissions is a missed opportunity for the United States to achieve a rule of law-compliant…
Why Congress Shouldn’t Fund a New Sea-Launched Nuke
Reviving the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile not only goes against sound military doctrine, it also undermines the basic national interests the US Navy has always protected.…
The Double Black Box: AI Inside the National Security Ecosystem
The use of AI to advance U.S. national security will complicate the application of constitutional checks and balances.
Three Years on From Taliban’s Takeover, What’s Next Amid Afghanistan’s Impasse?
Unfocused efforts to break the logjam over human rights and diplomatic recognition raise questions about how to move forward.
Breaking the Deadlock: New Talks Needed to Help End Sudan’s Violence and Offer a Glimmer of Hope
Unless parties are willing to come to the table, there is no pathway from war toward restoring civilian rule and a democratic transition.
The Year(s) of Magical Thinking on Sudan
Three fallacies have dominated -- and damaged-- US diplomacy in the current war and the lead-up to it.
The Perils of Expertise: How the DOJ Indictment of Sue Mi Terry Can Chill the Think Tank World
Former White House Counsel Greg Craig with a scathing critique of the Justice Department's prosecution.
The State Department’s Wrong Decision to Exempt IDF Unit from Leahy Law Ineligibility
Former State Department official critically analyzes State Department's decision to drop Netzah Yehuda unit from Leahy Law sanctions.
Train Wreck at Guantánamo
Leading expert on military justice analyzes the extraordinary turn of events in on again, off again plea deals in 9/11 military commissions cases, and what should happen next.