President Trump has approved a U.S. Army firing squad to carry out the death sentence for Fort Hood mass murderer Nidal Malik Hasan, marking the first military execution in more than six decades.
Story Highlights
- Pentagon says President Trump approved a firing squad for convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the method; Trump gave final approval.
- Hasan killed 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood attack and was sentenced to death.
- This would be the first U.S. military execution in over 60 years, underscoring its rarity.
Pentagon Confirms Trump’s Approval and the Method
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended, and President Trump approved, death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan. Multiple outlets reported the same wording and attribution from the Pentagon. The announcement centers on the approved method and the chain of authority, naming both decision-makers and the condemned. Reports describe the step as the first U.S. military execution move of this kind in more than 60 years, reflecting the event’s gravity.
News accounts identify Hasan as the Army psychiatrist who murdered 13 people and wounded others at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. A military court convicted him and imposed the death sentence years ago. The Pentagon’s statement addresses how that sentence will be carried out. Outlets including CBS News, United Press International, and the Washington Examiner cite the same Pentagon attribution. That shared language strengthens confidence in the core facts about the approval and the firing squad method.
Why Firing Squad, and Why Now
States and the military have debated execution methods as lethal injection faces drug shortages, legal battles, and botched attempts. Analysts and records show firing squads have been used very rarely in modern America. Recent coverage explains that some states have revived the option as a backup or alternative when lethal injection falters. Idaho’s 2026 law designating firing squad as its primary method shows the method is again part of the national debate over workable execution options.
Death penalty researchers note firing squads account for a tiny share of executions in the modern era. Their data put the number at a fraction of total executions since 1976, underscoring how uncommon the method remains. That rarity explains why the Pentagon’s approval drew immediate attention. The decision focuses on carrying out a lawful sentence for a convicted mass murderer, using a method officials view as feasible under current conditions and procedures, despite its uncommon use.
Historic Weight and Next Steps in a Military Case
Military history underscores the moment. Reporting states this would be the first U.S. military execution in more than 60 years, and the first use of a firing squad for the service since the World War II era, if carried out. Military executions have been exceedingly rare since the early 1960s. The Hasan case stands out because the conviction is settled, the sentence is death, and Pentagon officials have now specified the method and named the leaders responsible for the approval.
Officials have not publicly detailed operational specifics, like the site, timing, or protocols, in the current reporting. Those steps in a military capital case can involve corrections planning and legal coordination before an execution proceeds. The Pentagon’s confirmation of the method and approval sets the direction. Families of the fallen, service members, and taxpayers will watch for formal scheduling steps and any final procedural notices that move the sentence from plan to completion.
Sources:
idahostatesman.com, forms-idoc.idaho.gov, idahonews.com, nypost.com, idoc.idaho.gov
