Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

Key points

• Trump approved the firing squad method after a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• This will be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first firing squad execution since 1945.
• Hasan was convicted in 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder for the 2009 attack.
• The Army has not yet publicly confirmed a specific date or location, though earlier reports cited December 3 at Fort Hood.
• Hasan may still seek habeas corpus relief in federal civilian court, which could delay the process.

Background

Nidal Malik Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009, killing 13 service members and wounding 32 others. He was convicted by a military jury in 2013 and sentenced to death. The U.S. military has not carried out an execution since 1961, when Private John Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The last firing squad execution in the U.S. military occurred in 1945 for Private Eddie Slovik. Firing squads remain legal in several states, including Idaho, which made it the primary method in July 2026, and South Carolina, where several civilian executions were carried out in 2025.

How outlets are covering it

The Washington Post and NBC News report the core facts of the approval and the historical significance of the method. The Bergen Record provides broader context on the legality of firing squads in the U.S., noting that while rare, they are authorized in states like Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. Supporters of the method argue it is more reliable than lethal injection, while opponents view all forms of capital punishment as inhumane. NBC News notes that prosecutors alleged Hasan was motivated by a sense of duty to jihad and unwillingness to be deployed to Afghanistan, though a Joint Terrorism Task Force determined he acted alone and was not involved in terrorist planning. The Washington Post and NBC News emphasize that the Army has not yet set a specific date or location, contrasting with earlier reports that suggested a December 3 timeline.

Why it matters

The approval of a firing squad execution for Nidal Hasan marks a significant shift in U.S. military justice, ending a 60-year hiatus on military executions. It also brings renewed attention to the legality and use of firing squads in the U.S., a method that has been largely dormant in civilian and military contexts since the mid-20th century. The case highlights ongoing debates over capital punishment methods and the role of presidential approval in military death sentences.

What to watch

The Secretary of the Army will determine the specific time and location for the execution. Hasan may still seek habeas corpus relief in federal civilian court, which could delay the process. The Army has not yet publicly confirmed a date, though earlier reports suggested December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas.