Trump Authorizes Firing Squad for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

President Donald Trump has approved the use of a firing squad for the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted for the 2009 mass shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. The decision, confirmed by the Pentagon, follows a formal recommendation from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist, was convicted by a military jury in 2013 for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left 32 others wounded. He has remained on death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since his conviction. This authorization represents a major shift in military justice procedure, as the U.S. military has not carried out an execution of its personnel since 1961.

The approval comes as part of a broader shift in capital punishment policy under the current administration, which has sought to diversify the methods available for state and federal executions. Officials have pointed to ongoing logistical challenges in securing necessary drugs for lethal injections as a primary reason for exploring alternative methods, including firing squads, electrocution, and gas asphyxiation.

While the authorization marks a decisive step, the execution process remains subject to standard legal scrutiny. Military death sentences historically face lengthy review processes, including potential habeas corpus appeals in federal courts. The Secretary of the Army is currently responsible for establishing the final timeline for the sentencing.

For observers of U.S. legal and military policy, the development highlights a return to traditional methods of capital punishment that have been largely absent from the American legal system for decades. The specific date and venue for the execution have not yet been publicly disclosed by the Department of Defense.