More than fifteen years after a mass shooting at Fort Hood claimed thirteen lives and shattered the trust at the heart of military service, the United States government has moved toward a final reckoning. The Trump administration has authorized the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan by firing squad — a method not used by the military against one of its own since 1961 — closing a long chapter of appeals and deferral with a decision that carries the full weight of military justice, historical precedent, and the grief of dozens of families.
Pentagon approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan
Hasan killed 13 people and injured more than 30 in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
Judgment day for Hasan has finally come
Mark
So Hasan has been on death row for over a decade now. What took so long to get to this point?
Mimi
The appeals process in capital cases is deliberately lengthy. Hasan represented himself, which created unusual dynamics in the courtroom. His judge was actually worried he was trying to get executed. Then he appealed to the Supreme Court in 2024, which they rejected.
Luke
Right, but we should be clear: the Supreme Court declining to hear the case doesn't mean they agreed with the conviction. It just means they didn't think there was a constitutional issue worth reviewing. That's a procedural distinction that matters.
Mark
And the firing squad choice—is that unusual for the military?
Mimi
Very. The military hasn't executed anyone since 1961. And firing squad is rare even in civilian cases now. The federal government mostly uses lethal injection.
Luke
Though we should note the Justice Department did say earlier this year that officials should consider other methods. So there's been some shift in thinking about execution methods generally.
Mark
Why would Hegseth and Trump choose firing squad specifically?
Mimi
The source doesn't explain the reasoning. We know it was recommended by Hegseth and approved by Trump, but the actual justification isn't stated.
Luke
That's an important gap. We're reporting what happened, not why they made that particular choice. The reader should know that distinction.
Mark
What happens next?
Mimi
The Secretary of the Army will set the date and place. But there's no timeline given in the announcement.
Luke
And Hasan's attorney could potentially file new motions or appeals, though the Supreme Court has already declined review. We don't know what legal options remain.
Le Pouls
- Thirteen people were killed and more than thirty wounded when Hasan opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, a betrayal from within the ranks that shook the U.S. military to its core.
- After a decade of appeals, including a failed 2024 petition to the Supreme Court, every legal avenue has been exhausted — leaving execution as the final, authorized step.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the firing squad method and President Trump approved it, signaling a deliberate departure from the federal government's traditional reliance on lethal injection.
- The Secretary of the Army has been tasked with determining the time and place of the execution, meaning the precise moment of this historic act remains pending.
- If carried out, this will be the first military execution of an American service member in over sixty years, marking a rare and consequential use of capital punishment within the armed forces.
More than fifteen years after a mass shooting at Fort Hood claimed thirteen lives and shattered the trust at the heart of military service, the United States government has moved toward a final reckoning. The Trump administration has authorized the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan by firing squad — a method not used by the military against one of its own since 1961 — closing a long chapter of appeals and deferral with a decision that carries the full weight of military justice, historical precedent, and the grief of dozens of families.
The Trump administration has authorized the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan by firing squad, the Pentagon announced Monday — a decision that brings a long and painful legal saga toward its conclusion. Hasan was convicted in a 2013 court-martial of murdering thirteen fellow soldiers and wounding more than thirty others in a 2009 attack at Fort Hood, Texas. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the firing squad method, and President Trump approved it. The Secretary of the Army will determine when and where the execution takes place.
Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, claimed at trial that he carried out the attack to protect Islamic insurgents from U.S. military forces. He chose to represent himself — a decision that complicated proceedings — and his own judge at one point raised concern that Hasan was deliberately seeking a death sentence. He was convicted nonetheless and sentenced to death.
The case spent more than a decade in appeals. In 2024, Hasan petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing his right to a public trial had been violated when the judge cleared the courtroom during certain discussions. The Court declined to hear the case, closing his last avenue of appeal.
If carried out, the execution would be the first of an American service member by the military since 1961. Firing squad remains rare in federal practice, though the Justice Department has recently encouraged consideration of alternative methods beyond lethal injection. The decision stands as a significant moment in both military justice and the broader history of capital punishment in the United States.
The Trump administration has authorized the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan by firing squad, the Pentagon announced late Monday. Hasan was convicted in 2013 of opening fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas in 2009, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 others. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the firing squad method, and President Trump approved it. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on social media that the Secretary of the Army will determine when and where the execution takes place.
Hasan, a psychiatrist in the Army, claimed during his court-martial that he carried out the shooting to protect Islamic insurgents from U.S. military forces. He chose to represent himself at trial, an unusual decision that complicated the proceedings. At one point, his own judge expressed concern that Hasan was deliberately pursuing a death sentence. Despite these complications, he was convicted and sentenced to death.
Hasan's case has moved through the appeals system for more than a decade. In 2024, he petitioned the Supreme Court to review his conviction, arguing that the judge had violated his right to a public trial by clearing the courtroom before discussing certain matters with attorneys. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case last year, effectively closing that avenue of appeal.
If carried out, this execution would be the first of an active-duty American service member by the military since 1961, when a soldier was hanged for raping and attempting to murder an 11-year-old girl. Firing squad remains an uncommon method for federal executions. The federal government has traditionally relied on lethal injection for civilian death penalty cases, though the Justice Department indicated earlier this year that officials should consider alternative methods, including firing squads, electrocution, and lethal gas. South Carolina used firing squads three times in the previous year.
The decision marks a significant moment in military justice and capital punishment policy. Hasan's legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment on the approval.
Citations marquantes
Hasan claimed he opened fire to protect Islamic insurgents from U.S. military forces— Hasan's stated justification at trial
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