Department of State
273 Articles
Who Will Stand Up for Human Rights in 2026 – and How?
The deterioration in human rights in 2025 heightens the risks for defenders going forward, all worsened by donors' deep funding cuts, especially those of the United States.
Legal and Practical Implications of the U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change
The U.S. withdrawal from the UNFCCC is a further blow to climate cooperation and a demonstration of U.S. foreign policy volatility.
Why a Ukraine-Russia Amnesty Would Violate Geneva Convention Obligations
An amnesty in any future peace plan would be unlawful and a moral abdication of the pursuit of accountability for victims in Russia's war in Ukraine.
State Dept’s Foreign Terrorist Designations Undermine Claims of “Antifa” Threat
Leading counter-extremism expert unpacks the administration's claimed designation of "Antifa Groups"
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Putin-Backed Bosnian Serb Separatist Leader
The Trump administration's sanctions removal for Bosnian Serb separatist Milorad Dodik precedes a Russia-Led U.N. Security Council meeting.
Global Fragility Act 2.0? Amid a Possible Bipartisan Revival, a Chance to Make U.S. Peace Efforts More Effective
If the administration seizes this moment, GFA 2.0 could help the U.S. prevent costly wars and compete effectively with rivals abroad.
Save the PMF Program or Risk Losing a Generation of Public Servants
The Trump administration's elimination of the PMF program will have negative long-term consequences for an entire generation of policymakers.
On the Role of State Department Career Attorneys
Ascribing indifference or, at worst, malevolent motives to career attorneys who are unable to refute such claims as they are bound by privilege is truly disappointing.
Trump Administration’s Proposed Cuts to Accountability for Mass Atrocities Undermine Its Own Strategic Goals
International accountability efforts are not a misguided moral crusade – they are a core instrument of U.S. national power.
The Trump Administration’s Costly Sidelining of Human Rights in Foreign Policy
The Trump administration’s approach to human rights ignores the real-world downsides and missed opportunities of setting aside human rights as a U.S. foreign policy interest.
How DHS’s New Social Media Vetting Policies Threaten Free Speech
A pair of cables issued by the State Department that are ostensibly intended to combat antisemitism will inevitably chill or punish First Amendment-protected speech.
Terrorism and the Threat of Weak States
State weakness boosts the organizational vitality of resident terrorist groups, enabling them to not only live longer but also expand their terrorist activities.