Reiss Center on Law and Security

U.S. Boat Strike Campaign: Questions Congress Should Ask A list of questions that should be answered by U.S. government officials regarding the lethal campaign against suspected drug traffickers.

U.S. Boat Strike Campaign: Questions Congress Should Ask Executive Branch Officials

By @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, Margaret Donovan, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social

www.justsecurity.org/126322/boat-...

The Furor Over Trump’s Boat Attacks and a Particular Follow-Up Strike, Explained

“Even under a law of armed conflict, they were all civilians, and we are not actually in armed conflict. Either way, it was all murder.”
Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Faculty Co-Director & IHL expert @rgoodlaw.bsky.social speaks to @charliesavage.bsky.social @nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...

Talking Foreign Policy - U.S. Attacks on Venezuelan and Colombian Narco Vessels Podcast Episode · Talking Foreign Policy · 12/01/2025 · 50m

I joined Michael Scharf, the host of Talking Foreign Policy, along with Harold Koh, Milena Sterio, and Greg Noone to discuss the Trump Administration's boat strikes

The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part IV A panel of experts, co-hosted with RCLS, discuss the Trump administration's campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers.

Murder on the High Seas Part IV is here👇

Joined by @rachelgoldbrenner.bsky.social, @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social to break down, 3 months in:

-Why the entire campaign is illegal
-The "double tap" Sept 2 strike
-Allies' reactions
-Congress' role

www.justsecurity.org/126056/the-j...

Must-read resource on the legality of the boat strikes in the Caribbean, in straightforward Q&A format.

From our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and senior fellow @tessbridgeman.bsky.social, with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social.

Read & refer to it, over @justsecurity.org:

The Just Security Podcast: Murder on the High Seas Part IV - Reiss Center on Law and Security A special episode of The Just Security Podcast, co-hosted by the Reiss Center on Law and Security The Trump administration has continued its campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug trafficke...

Amidst the ongoing lethal campaign in the Caribbean,
@rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellows/fmr senior govt lawyers are convening regularly to lend expertise

cc @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @becingber.bsky.social @justsecurity.org

🎤 The latest:
www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/mur...

This #GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll consider a tax-deductible gift to @rcls-nyu.bsky.social.

Your support helps us address #natsec challenges at home & abroad as we:
✔️Develop fact-based, relevant research
✔️Convene top experts on timely issues
✔️Train new leaders

lawandsecurity.org/donate/

Great speaking with Ruth Marcus @newyorker.com for her latest on the Trump administration's strikes on suspected drug traffickers at sea and why there can be no justification for firing on the two survivors of the military's first strike on Sept 2nd 👇

Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.

Read our latest (I teamed up with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social and @rgoodlaw.bsky.social) to understand the law on:

- The duty to refuse unlawful orders

- Why an order to fire on shipwrecked boat survivors is clearly illegal

- Why superior orders is not a defense

www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...

Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors: An Expert Backgrounder An expert backgrounder on the reported Hegseth "no quarter" order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2.

I teamed up with two phenomenal experts - @mikeschmitt.bsky.social @tessbridgeman.bsky.social - for this Expert Backgrounder.

To provide the public, lawmakers, other decision-makers with the best legal advice on this most serious issue.

Unlawful Orders and Killing Shipwrecked Boat Strike Survivors

Trump Declares Venezuelan Airspace Closed

Pleased to speak with @johnismay.bsky.social about Trump’s saber rattling towards Venezuela.

“Threats of the use of force, much less an actual attack on Venezuela, would violate the U.N. Charter. Any such attack would also lack congressional authorization.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u...

America Unbound in the Caribbean The real costs of Washington’s use of force.

Pleased to share my new essay in @foreignaffairs.com on the broader implications of the Trump administration’s killing spree at sea.

www.foreignaffairs.com/central-amer...

As news in the Caribbean/Eastern Pacific keeps coming, check out this vital resource from @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Student Scholars & @nyulaw.bsky.social students Jeremy Chin, Maggie Lin, Aidan Arasasingham.
Now with updates & expanded range of relevant actions and reactions.
Read @justsecurity.org:

Judge halts Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in DC | CNN CNN’s Erin Burnett talks to Ryan Goodman, former Special Counsel at the Dept. of Defense, about a federal judge ordering President Trump to immediately end his DC national guard deployment.

Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social explains court ruling halting deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, DC.
On @cnn.com's @outfrontcnn.bsky.social 👇
www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/u...

Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellow and former WH Deputy National Cyber Director, @camillestewartgloster.com writes in @justsecurity.org about natsec challenges and opportunities of solar energy👇

Read @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellow & counter-extremism expert @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social on new terrorism designations of "Antifa Groups", in @justsecurity.org 👇

Our @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Student Scholars engaged with this timely forum, which included panel discussions on the War Powers Resolution in the context of recent U.S. maritime strikes, emerging autonomous drone capabilities, and evolving questions of judicial ethics.

This week, @rcls-nyu.bsky.social was honored to cosponsor the American Bar Association’s (@americanbar.org) 35th Annual Review of National Security Law Conference, featuring leading legal voices across the #natsec field.

events.americanbar.org/event/2f688d...

The “Presumption of Regularity” in Trump Administration Litigation Comprehensive study of court cases involving Trump administration and the basis for courts no longer giving a "presumption of regularity."

Panelists pointed to study by Faculty Co-Dir @rgoodlaw.bsky.social & @justsecurity.org team on court decisions that push back on the "presumption of regularity" generally afforded to the exec branch.

Read more here 👇
www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...

YouTube video by NYU School of Law NYU Law Forum—All the President’s Power: What’s Left of Checks and Balances?

At @nyulaw.bsky.social / @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Forum, experts weighed in on:

• Appropriations & impoundment
• Prosecution of political rivals
• Courts’ role given standing & preclusion doctrines

“What’s Left of Checks and Balances?” Find out👇
youtu.be/BWX1_EUALcE?...

ICYMI: Watch leading legal experts discuss & debate presidential power and the state of constitutional checks & balances.

@nyulaw.bsky.social Forum cohosted by us @rcls-nyu.bsky.social

w/
Bob Bauer
Michael McConnell (Stanford Law)
Gillian Metzger (Columbia Law)
RCLS Faculty Co-Dir Trevor Morrison

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.

@rcls-nyu.bsky.social Student Scholars Margaret Lin and Jeremy Chin build a vital war powers timeline @justsecurity.org chronicling
🔹U.S. vessel strikes
🔹Admin statements
🔹Congressional actions
Check back for updates www.justsecurity.org/124002/timel...

Dissecting the Trump Administration’s Effort to Circumvent the War Powers Resolution for Boat Strikes Analysis of Trump administration's claim that War Powers Resolution's regulating US troops in "hostilities" does not apply to boat strikes.

On the 60-day clock deadline, @rcls-nyu.bsky.social fellow @bcfinucane.bsky.social authors piece @justsecurity.org — refuting arguments reportedly being made by #Trump Administration to Congress that seek to avoid the War Powers Resolution's constraints:
www.justsecurity.org/123844/war-p...

More from @rcls-nyu.bsky.social experts as war powers 60-day clock comes up today.

Our faculty co-director @rgoodlaw.bsky.social speaks with @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social @thebulwark.com about the significance of the deadline and the precedents being set👇
bsky.app/profile/rgoo...

Expert Backgrounder on War Powers Resolution 60-Day Clock for Boat Strikes Expiring Monday Expert backgrounder on how War Powers Resolution works in application to U.S. military operations against suspected drug cartels.

The latest addition to @justsecurity.org's collection:

Timely new explainer by our senior fellow @becingber.bsky.social and Jessica Thibodeau on the background and significance of the 60-day clock that will expire on Monday 11/3:
www.justsecurity.org/123717/war-p...

Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers Collection of expert analysis on the legality of the U.S. strike on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, the consequences of the strike, and related issues.

➡️ Third, a vital and growing collection of analysis as the strikes unfold — including by many Reiss Center @rcls-nyu.bsky.social experts

Explore this essential resource @justsecurity.org:
www.justsecurity.org/120753/colle...

Murder on the High Seas Part II: What We Know about U.S. Vessel Strikes One Month In - Reiss Center on Law and Security A special episode of The Just Security Podcast, co-hosted by the Reiss Center on Law and Security   Since early September, President Trump has ordered the U.S. military to conduct multiple lethal stri...

➡️ Second, a series of probing discussions w/ @rcls-nyu.bsky.social experts on the legality & consequences of #Trump Admin's lethal campaign:

☑️ www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/mur...
☑️ www.justsecurity.org/122950/podca...

CC @tessbridgeman.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @becingber.bsky.social

As the 60-day war powers deadline looms, our Project has the data to assess past presidents’ practice under the WPR & how Trump presidency compares

Explore graphic illustrations, interactive map, database with search filters & primary docs

Created by Reiss Center fellow @tessbridgeman.bsky.social

🧵 w/ three key resources you need to assess what's happening

➡️ First, Reiss Center’s WPR Reporting Project:
🔹Open-source, searchable database on the use of armed forces abroad
🔹Reports by every US President since 1973, from Ford to Trump—inc. 9/4/25 boat strikes report

warpowers.lawandsecurity.org

⏰The War Powers clock is ticking⏰

Nov 3 🟰 60 days since reported 1st Caribbean boat strike

Under War Powers Resolution, w/in 60 days if Congress does not OK strikes, POTUS “shall terminate any use of US Armed Forces”

Our catalog on every War Powers Reports since 1973:
warpowers.lawandsecurity.org