Jeh Johnson discusses his contributions to the national security policy of the Obama administration, in which he served as general counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012, and as secretary of homeland security from 2013 to 2017. Johnson describes the contest within the Obama administration between idealist and pragmatic approaches to national security and foreign policy. He shares st ories about important initiatives and events he was closely involved with, including the revision of Bush administration detention protocols; the effort to close the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp; trials of alleged terrorists; the legality of the use of drones and other precision weapon systems; and the repeal of the Department of Defense's Don't Ask, Don't Tell directive. Johnson also outlines the scope of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and describes efforts to shift the department's counterterrorism focus from foreign-launched attacks to foreign-inspired attacks, particularly after the rise of ISIS. Johnson discusses major issues and initiatives with which he was involved during the course of his tenure at the agency, including the migrant crisis on the southern border during the summer of 2014, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents executive actions, the 2015 hacking of Office of Personnel Management records, and the Countering Violent Extremism program. Also discussed are DHS's cybersecurity capabilities, refugee resettlement efforts, the legal basis of the Osama bin Laden raid, Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the relationship between DHS and large technology companies, and Johnson's participation in the Trump administration's presidential transition
Presidents--United States; Presidents--Transition periods--United States; National security--Government policy--United States; Terrorism--Prevention--United States; Drone warfare--Laww and legislation--United States; Foreign interference in elections--United States; Foreign interference in elections--Russia; Johnson, Jeh Charles, 1957-; Obama, Barack; Bin Laden, Osama, 1957-2011 Assassination; Columbia University College trustees; Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp Military base closures; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (U.S.); IS (Organization); United States. Department of Defense; United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States; Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
182 pages
Note (Biographical)
Jeh Johnson is a lawyer and a public servant, who was appointed by President Obama as secretary of homeland security, serving from 2013 to 2017. Before his appointment, Secretary Johnson was general counsel for the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2 012. Prior to that, he served as general counsel of the Department of the Air Force and as assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. At the time of the interview, Johnson was a partner in the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP and a trustee of Columbia University
Note
Interviewed by Evan McCormick on June 10 and July 1, 2020, and by Nicole R. Hemmer on October 5 and October 12, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Jeh C. Johnson, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022