Department of Defense (DoD)
285 Articles

The Attempt to Purge Trans Members from the Armed Forces
The effort to purge all trans people from the military is not merely a repeat of the struggle that played out during the first Trump administration; it is an attack of a different…

What Just Happened: At Guantanamo’s Migrant Operation Center
Sending anyone from the United States to Guantanamo raises a host of legal, moral, and policy questions.

Key Takeaways for Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response from the Russia-Ukraine War
Ukraine's fight against Russia offers an important entry point to the discussion of applying CHMR practices to large-scale combat operations.

Unpacking the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on AI Infrastructure
The Biden administration's latest executive order on AI aims to balance innovation with national security, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability.

A Model Leahy Law Legal Memo on Assistance to Israeli Security Forces
A model Department of Defense action memo illustrates what a faithful application of the Leahy law to an alleged gross human rights violation in Israel would look like.

How Much (or How Little) Does the Biden Administration Want Justice in the 9/11 Case?
Secretary of Defense Austin's actions to reverse a plea deal for three defendants at Guantanamo may further jeopardize the prosecution's case.

How to Fix the Defense Production Act Committee
Revamping the Defense Production Act Committee to achieve its founding potential would be a step toward a stronger American industrial strategy – and to ensuring American resilience…

Is The Pentagon’s Plan to Protect Civilians Living up to its Promises?
Taking stock of the Pentagon's progress in implementing the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan.

Much Ado About Nothing: Recent Changes to Department of Defense Directive 5240.01
Recent changes to this Defense Department directive do not reflect any change in policy and provide no new authority to deploy the military domestically or to use lethal force…

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…

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.

Donald Trump’s Dangerous Views on Disability and the Power to Think Differently
People with disabilities have the potential to live rich and fulfilling lives – but first others need to share that belief.