secretary of defense

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Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe (R), accompanied by FBI Director Kash Patel (L), and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (C)

Signal Gate: The Criminal Law Precedents That Are Most Relevant

A range of federal laws, including the Espionage Act and laws against the destruction of government records, could apply in this case.
From left to right, standing in the back row are Lewis F. Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Harry Blackmun, and William Rehnquist

No, the Defense Department Did Not “Ignore” a Judicial Order in 1973 Cambodia Bombing Case

I argued the Holtzman case. Nothing in Holtzman v. Schlesinger suggests that the military, acting under Presidential instructions, is empowered to ignore court orders.
The Pentagon logo and an American flag are lit up in the briefing room of Pentagon in Arlington, VA.

How the Pentagon Personnel Firings Threaten Our Apolitical Military

This unprecedented purge of the nation’s top brass suggests that Trump may attempt to fill these roles with officers he perceives as loyal.
A photo shows a building with beige siding and a banner hanging below a window with a seal and the words "Office of Military Commissions."

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.
A white sign with blue writing on it reads "Camp Justice" with a blue sky behind it and a U.S. flag flying above.

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…
One marine does a star jump while others are in varying stages of their own jumps.

The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Civil-Military Solutions in a Time of Partisan Polarization

Civilian and military elites, as well as the general public, have work to do to combat politicization of the all-volunteer force and help it survive another 50 years.
Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander, U.S. Forces-Iraq receives the command colors from U.S. Marine Gen. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command at the USF-I change of command ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq on Sept. 1, 2010. Other military members stand around them.

Shifting Norms About Secretary of Defense Has Long-Term Consequences: On the Austin Nomination

Even if retired Gen. Lloyd Austin handles the job of defense secretary perfectly, his nomination alone still has long-term consequences, eroding the norm of civilian control by…
U.S. Army (retired) General Lloyd Austin speaks after being formally nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Defense by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden at the Queen Theatre on December 09, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. President-elect Biden wears a face mask and sits socially distanced behind General Austin who does not wear a face mask and speaks at a podium. American flags can be seen behind Biden.

Important Context Missing from the Austin Nomination Debate

Civilian control of the military is an essential part of our constitutional fabric, but that doesn’t mean that recently retired officers are inevitably inappropriate defense…
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