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The E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, in Washington, DC, as seen from the sky.

Don’t Place Judicial Accountability In The Dark

Efforts to ensure the safety and security of federal judges – including by shielding certain personal information, such as addresses, from public disclosure – are sadly necessary…
A folio lays and a dark surface. The front page reads, “FARA and 951 Presentation and Roundtable June 29, 2017.”

In Absence of Foreign Agents Registration Reform, DOJ Tweaks Could Make a Big Difference

Its core obligations have not been comprehensively updated since the 1960s. Until they are, the executive branch could address key shortcomings.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland addresses staff on his first day at the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC on March 11, 2021.

How Attorney General Garland Can Strengthen FOIA Implementation

Here's what Attorney General Garland's department-wide memorandum on the Freedom of Information of Act should look like.
Graffiti showing a US drone is depicted on a wall to protest against US drone strikes on September 19, 2018 in Sana'a, Yemen.

Biden’s Drone Policy Review: Recommendations for a Reset

"The administration should see this review as an opportunity take some first critical steps toward ending the forever wars."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sits with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden during a meeting that included Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (not shown) at the Queen Theater on November 20, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. They sit at a large horse-shoe or square table allowing ample room for social distancing. An American flag stands behind the table near President-elect Biden.

Principles for a 2021 Authorization for Use of Military Force

The Biden administration and new Congress have an opportunity to fundamentally rethink the congressional authorization of military force against terrorist groups. Here are seven…
US soldiers in Bradley tanks carrying American flags patrol an area near Syria's northeastern Semalka border crossing with Iraq's Kurdish autonomous territory, on January 12, 2021.

Just Security Obtains Overseas Troop Counts That the Pentagon Concealed from the Public

Through FOIA litigation, Just Security obtained records that provide a fuller picture of U.S. troop commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria over the last three years.
A U.S. Air Force MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), awaits a mission at an air base in the Persian Gulf region on January 7, 2016.

To End the Forever Wars, Rein in the Drones

In drawing down the U.S. conventional military footprint, policymakers should resist relying reflexively on drone strikes in its place. Biden has a unique opportunity to chart…
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photographers crowd in front of the bench she sits at and take photos. The chairs behind her appear crowded and full.

Congress Now Has More Power to Shed Light on Trump’s Abuses of Power

Throughout former President Donald Trump’s tenure, the White House stonewalled congressional oversight requests with impunity. Until now.
The cap of the United States Capitol Building

How New Congress Can Shine Light on Trump Era and Persisting Abuses

Three kinds of information Congress should get from Biden administration.
File folders in a filing cabinet

The Promises of FOIA in 2021: A Ready Pathway to Accountability

It's not just a matter of choice for Biden admin. Here's what the Freedom of Information Act — and pending litigation — requires the executive branch to disclose about Trump…
Just Security

A Roadmap for Reform: How the Biden Administration Can Revitalize the Office of Legal Counsel

As President-Elect Joe Biden announces his picks for cabinet positions, the Nation’s focus has increasingly turned to the challenges facing the incoming administration. One such…
The cap of the United States Capitol Building

The Failed Transparency Regime for Executive Agreements

This article is cross-posted at Lawfare.   In late October, the United States and Sudan reportedly signed a bilateral agreement “to resolve claims arising from the 1998…
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