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.
4,722 Articles
The Trump Administration Has a Cyber Strategy. Does It Have a Plan?
The real test will be whether clearer policy guidance, legal authorities, and institutional structures follow the Trump administration's Cyber Strategy for America.
America Is Turning Away People Fleeing for Their Lives — and Breaking the Law to Do It
Former senior officials explain why the Trump administration's argument in Noem v. Al Otro Lado is morally troubling and legally wrong.
An Unserious Justification for an Unnecessary War: Assessing the U.S. “Article 51” Letter to U.N. on Iran War
Former US State Department attorney writes that the United States' "Article 51" letter to the UN Security Council fails to identify legal basis for Iran attack.
How Trump’s New Global Gag Rules Will Undermine US Interests Abroad
Reduced effectiveness in HIV prevention, slower humanitarian response, and fragmented partnerships impose real costs on American interests and vulnerable populations alike.
Did the United States Just Bomb Ecuador?
The U.S. military continues maritime strikes on alleged drug smugglers and may now be hitting targets on land. Brian Finucane analyzes Trump’s latest War Powers report.
Military Law on “Contemptuous Words” Should be Reformed
A possible line of defense for the Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibition on contemptuous words.
Operation Epic Fury: Reports of the Death of International Law are Greatly Exaggerated
"I am sure some restrictionists will critique my analysis by claiming it is not grounded in orthodox interpretations of international law."
Iran, War Powers, and the Power of the Purse: Leverage or Legalization
With America’s war in Iran costing around $2 billion per day, Congress will soon face a choice: use its leverage to force an exit, or continue to fund it.
The Deeper Problem with ICE’s Arrest Warrants
DHS regulations do not ensure that ICE arrest warrants are supported by reliable probable cause findings. That failing poses significant Fourth Amendment risks.
Top Questions the Trump Administration Needs to Answer on War with Iran
What Congress, journalists, and the public should ask the Trump administration about its war in Iran.
What Hegseth’s “Supply Chain Risk” Designation of Anthropic Does and Doesn’t Mean
Abuse of a tailored national security authority to resolve an ideological dispute playing out over DoD’s desire to change its contractual terms should not be taken lightly.
The Trump Administration’s Theory of Constitutional War Powers: “The President Could Decide”
The legal memo justifying its Venezuela operations provides insight into the administration's use-of-force decisions and the factual evidence undergirding them.