The US Department of War has announced an unprecedented decision: former military officer Nidal Hasan, convicted of mass murder at the Fort Hood base in Texas, will be executed by firing squad, and the process is planned to be broadcast live. Department head Pete Hegseth told reporters that the sentence is to be carried out on December 3, 2026.
Background and the Fort Hood Case
The tragedy occurred on November 5, 2009, when major and military psychiatrist Nidal Hasan opened fire on service members at a training center on the Fort Hood base. As a result of the bloody rampage, 13 people were killed and another 32 were severely wounded. During his arrest, the perpetrator was wounded by law enforcement and remained partially paralyzed. In August 2013, a military tribunal found him guilty on 45 counts and sentenced him to death.
Political Decision and Presidential Approval
Under United States military law, carrying out a death sentence by firing squad requires mandatory approval from the head of state. US President Donald Trump personally approved the recommendation of War Secretary Pete Hegseth. This decision fits into a broader trend of tightening penal policies by the US administration, which in April 2026 officially expanded the list of permitted federal execution methods to include firing squads, the electric chair, and gas amid shortages of lethal injection drugs.
Historical Precedent and Open Broadcast
The upcoming execution will mark the first firing squad execution of an American service member since 1945, when Private Eddie Slovik was executed in France for desertion. Moreover, the decision to make the execution public and broadcast it live has no parallel in modern US history—the last officially documented public execution in the country dates back to 1936. The Pentagon emphasizes that demonstrating the sentence is intended to serve as a harsh warning to potential criminals.
