Oversight
Highlights:
Timeline of Vessel Strikes and Related Actions
A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
The $550 Billion Shadow Budget: Trump’s Japan Deal and the Disappearing Appropriations Clause
The deal circumvents the Appropriations Clause and congressional safeguards designed to enforce it, creating a system answerable only to the White House.
Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions
Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
Some Questions About Trump’s Order Pledging to Defend Qatar’s Security
Trump's Executive Order on Qatar raises a number of important legal and policy questions that merit careful consideration by Congress and the public.
What the Senate Judiciary Committee Should Ask A.G. Bondi on Drug Cartel Strikes
Annotated questions Congress should be asking about U.S. military strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
Legal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Notice to Congress on “Armed Conflict” with Drug Cartels
The Trump administration’s “armed conflict” justification, however, is groundless.
85 Articles
The Just Security Podcast: Sen. Elissa Slotkin on a New Vision for American National Security
The Senator joins Tess Bridgeman and Ryan Goodman for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of national security and foreign policy.
Introduction to Series: Data Preservation Under the Trump Administration
A new series on what is at stake — and what can be done — to ensure government information remains publicly accessible and properly stored.
Congress Spotlight: The Minority’s Toolbox and a Possible Way Forward
The minority’s powers in Congress are limited—they cannot call hearings or issue subpoenas. But they do have a wide menu of options.
“Fired” Member of U.S. Privacy Oversight Board Discusses What He Considers at Stake
"The risks to U.S. persons, as well as non-U.S. persons, from the misuse, abuse, and exfiltration of data are quite substantial."
Trump’s China Tariff Now Treats Hong Kong the Same as the Mainland, a First in US Policy
Trump's tariffs treat Hong Kong as indistinguishable from China, disregarding Hong Kong’s status as an autonomous territory.
Questions for Senators (And Journalists) to Ask Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi
We asked leading experts what questions Committee members should ask Bondi in her confirmation hearing.
Questions for Senators (and Journalists) to Ask Secretary of Energy Nominee Chris Wright
We asked leading experts what questions the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources should focus on in Wright’s confirmation hearing.
National Security Resilience and Reform: Trump 2.0 and Beyond
Beginning a national security reform process is not just necessary, but urgently demanded to break inertia and launch a new dynamic.
Congress Must Heed Koh’s Call to Surface Secret Law
Ensuring that any secret law-making in the executive branch gets disinfecting sunlight is uniquely important because of its potential to give legal cover for overbroad, unaccountable,…
Presidential Immunity Decision May Have Implications for Congressional-Executive Divide on Criminal Contempt
With Trump v. United States, a majority of the Supreme Court appears ready to resolve a longstanding dispute over prosecutorial discretion in contempt of Congress cases in favor…
Transparency of International Agreements Under the Revised Case-Zablocki Act: An Assessment After Six Months
Despite the substantial improvements in the transparency regime for executive agreements and non-binding instruments, additional changes should be considered.
The Nuts and Bolts of Enforcing AI Guardrails
More work is needed to ensure U.S. federal agencies have the resources to implement essential AI safeguards.