President Trump has approved death by U.S. Army firing squad for Nidal Malik Hasan, setting up the military’s first execution in more than six decades.
Story Snapshot
- Pentagon confirms firing squad approval for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
- Hasan was sentenced to death by court-martial in 2013.
- Thirteen were killed and dozens wounded in the 2009 attack.
- The Army secretary will set the execution time and place.
What Was Decided And Who Made The Call
Pentagon officials said Defense leadership recommended the method, and President Trump approved execution by firing squad for Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood attack. The Pentagon statement added that the Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution, which is standard in military capital cases after presidential approval. This action moves a long-stalled case into its final phase while keeping the scheduling authority inside the Army chain of command.
The decision revives a rarely used power in military justice. The United States military has not carried out any execution since 1961, which underscores how unusual this case is. The approval also tracks the structure of military law. A death sentence from a court-martial requires review and final approval by the Commander in Chief before the Army can act. That sequence of steps explains why a 2013 sentence can reach operational planning only now.
What Hasan Did And How The Case Unfolded
Hasan carried out a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009. The attack killed 13 people and wounded more than two dozen others, with many soldiers among the victims. An Army court-martial convicted Hasan and, after brief deliberations, sentenced him to death on August 28, 2013. Reports state Hasan remains in Army custody at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after losing his final appeal in early 2025, which cleared the way for executive action.
The Army’s own account highlights how quickly the court-martial panel chose the death sentence once it found guilt, capturing both the gravity of the crimes and the clarity of the facts presented at trial. That swift sentencing stands out against the long appellate timeline that followed. Automatic review in military capital cases adds years. Still, it also ensures the record is complete when the case reaches the executive branch. The Pentagon’s announcement signals those checks have run their course.
Why Firing Squad And Why Now
The firing squad method, while rare, has a practical logic inside military culture. It involves trained marksmen, clear procedures, and quick results. Supporters argue it aligns with military discipline and avoids the medicalization that has plagued lethal injection debates in civilian systems. From a rule-of-law lens, the key point is not the spectacle but the chain of authority: conviction by court-martial, exhaustive review, presidential approval, and Army execution orders that follow the book.
Nidal Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood attack that killed 13 and wounded 32, will face an Army firing squad after Trump approved the execution. pic.twitter.com/JPvQ7FULbU
— Paul Samson (@PSamson64296) October 6, 2026
The timing reflects two forces. First, the appellate process appears to have closed, including review by the highest military court. Second, the Commander in Chief exercised the duty that military law assigns to the presidency in capital cases. Critics of delay often say justice deferred becomes justice denied. This step answers that concern while staying within the rules. It also states a clear priority: protect the force, honor the fallen, and enforce consequences that match the crime.
What Comes Next For The Army And The Families
The Secretary of the Army will now choose the location and date, likely at a secure Army facility with established procedures and command oversight. Families of the fallen have waited 17 years for closure. Many will see this as the system keeping its promise. The public record fixes the core facts: a mass murder on a United States base, a unanimous death sentence by soldiers, and lawful approval by the President. The next notice will set the hour and place.
Sources:
bbc.com, cnbc.com, rte.ie, army.mil
