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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4,597 Articles

National Security Implications of Trump’s Superseding Indictment: A Damage Assessment 2.0

The alleged attempt to delete surveillance camera footage at Mar-a-Lago poses its own significant concerns for U.S. national security.

The Year of Section 702 Reform, Part III: Why Congress Should Not Exempt Warrantless “Foreign Intelligence” Queries

A cramped approach to protecting Americans’ privacy would be a mistake, both as a legal matter and a practical one.
Shot of the United States Capitol in front of a cloudy sky

The House Closed a Key Loophole in Court-Martial Appeals. Will the Senate Follow?

The Senate should support the draft NDAA section that finally drops unfair limitations on GI access to the United States' highest court.
visual representation of a global communications network

A Close and Critical Look at the ‘Five Things’ the ACLU Says You Need to Know About ‘NSA Mass Surveillance’

The most compelling national security question this year is whether Congress will reauthorize Section 702 and, if so, what form that reauthorization will take.

From ‘Island of Democracy’ to ‘Consolidated Authoritarian Regime’: The Need to Reverse Kyrgyzstan’s Slide

Effects of internal corruption and opaque institutions spill beyond borders, even to the war in Ukraine. Cases show the risks and the hope.
A man in a grey suit and a red tie walks surrounded by reporters holding phones towards him.

Senator Tommy Tuberville’s Dangerous Military Promotion Ploy

The U.S. military already faces a recruitment crisis. Senator Tommy Tuberville's politicization of the promotions process over abortion makes things worse, violating civil-military…
Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters in front of a sign saying "Defend Our Nation."

Civilian Protection Gains Stagnate in FY24 House NDAA

As the Senate considers the NDAA, U.S. policymakers should rally around the passed House amendments poised to make progress for civilians.

Unpacking the “Surprise” Crime in DOJ’s Target Letter to Trump

What does that law say? How has DOJ used it in past? What alleged Trump conduct meets the elements of the crime?

Why Say Who Did What? The Ethiopia Case and the Power of US Atrocity Determinations

Are they meaningful if condemnation is followed blithely by economic engagement with the same actors who committed the violations?
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps rehearse in hazy smoke

Burning Threats: How Wildfires Undermine U.S. National Security

Climate change impacts like wildfires will affect readiness for the next war — from missed training exercises to drained resources.
A phone is shown with social media icons such as hearts and likes above it.

Missouri v. Biden Raises More First Amendment Questions Than It Answers

The interactions at the heart of Missouri v. Biden implicate many speech interests: those of the platforms, independent entities researching misinformation, the government, and…
An aerial image shows migrants waiting along the border wall to surrender to Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing

DeSantis Campaign’s Border Proposal Raises Separation of Powers Concerns

Florida governor and U.S. presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has proposed action that would flout constitutional and statutory limits.
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