Trump signed an order October 5 approving execution by firing squad for Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers and injured 32 at Fort Hood in November 2009. Hasan has been on military death row since a 2013 court-martial conviction. The Army Secretary must set a date within 60 to 150 days. If no habeas corpus appeal delays the timeline, this will be the first US military execution since Army Pvt. John Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth in 1961.
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Method and Timeline
Defense Secretary Hegseth recommended the firing squad over lethal injection. Hasan, 57, has been held at Fort Leavenworth military prison since conviction. He may file a habeas corpus petition in federal civilian court, pausing execution for years. If no appeal is filed, the execution could proceed as early as early 2027.
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Obama-Era Misclassification
The Obama administration classified the attack as 'workplace violence,' denying Purple Hearts and combat benefits to victims' families for 12 years. Hasan had exchanged emails with al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki before the attack and shouted 'Allahu Akbar' while firing. A 2024 statute retroactively awarded the withheld benefits.
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Military Justice Significance
The US military has not executed anyone since 1961, though five other service members remain on military death row. A completed execution restores practical deterrence to the military justice death penalty system and sets a procedural precedent for future cases. Hegseth called the decision 'long overdue.'
Military law. Military consequences. Sixty-five years was long enough to wait.
Key FAQ
Q1: What crime did Nidal Hasan commit?
He killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30+ at Fort Hood in 2009 — the deadliest US military base attack since WWII. A military court sentenced him to death.
Q2: When was the last US military execution?
1961 — a 65-year gap. This is the first military execution since then, and only the third in the post-WWII era.
Q3: Why firing squad instead of lethal injection?
The Trump administration cited drug unavailability. The Supreme Court upheld firing squads as constitutional in 2020, removing the main legal obstacle.
Sources
- ✓ CNBC — Trump approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood killer Nidal Hasan — 2026-10-06
- ✓ CNN — Nidal Hasan execution: Trump approves firing squad for 2009 Fort Hood shooter — 2026-10-05