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.
4,713 Articles
Prosecuting Trump for the Insurrection: The Well-Founded Case for Optimism
"As a former federal civil rights prosecutor who investigated and tried police abuse cases under the onerous ‘willfulness’ standard for many years, I am optimistic of the prospects…
Still at War: The United States in Iraq
There are both benefits and risks to maintaining a U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Biden’s New Counterterrorism Policy in Somalia: Cautions and Unknowns
More information is needed to assess the strategic and legal basis for redeploying U.S. troops to Somalia.
Russian Threats and Cybersecurity: Q&A with Beth George, former DOD acting General Counsel
A conversation with former acting General Counsel of the Department of Defense.
On New Cross-Border Cybercrime Policing Protocol, a Call for Caution
The treaty creates a range of new policing powers with weak privacy and human rights standards and fails to include sufficient oversight.
Defense Dept Law of War Manual and Its Unintended Readings: On Civilians Assuming Risk of Harm
The Manual risks creating a false impression that is not intended by the senior Defense Department leadership who produced the Manual — a problem that could significantly undervalue…
Climate Security, Energy Security, and the Russia-Ukraine War
Shifting away from fossil fuels from Russia and other petrostrates "offers a rare geopolitical 'win-win'" on climate and energy security.
Trump’s Next Presidential Coup Attempt Could Work
Flawed laws, enacted in 1845 and 1887, create a dangerous opportunity.
DoD Needs to Rethink its Civilian Casualty Reporting Mechanism
Current reporting mechanisms are opaque and not user-friendly for civilians seeking to use them in conflict-prone areas.
The “Leahy Laws” and U.S. Assistance to Ukraine
For practical and principled reasons, human rights compliance will continue to be paramount for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.
Facebook Provided Warning to FBI Before January 6, GAO Report Reveals
The GAO report's findings raise questions about statements by FBI Director Christopher Wray in previous testimony to Congress.
How Cambodia’s Human Rights Crackdown Undermines Regional Security
The upcoming White House summit with ASEAN offers a chance for the US to press on human rights abuses and costly alliances with China.