The Pentagon says President Trump approved a U.S. Army firing squad to execute Nidal Hasan, marking the first military execution in over six decades.
Story Snapshot
- Pentagon spokesman says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended firing squad and President Trump approved it.
- Army Secretary will set the time and place; no date announced yet.
- Hasan was convicted in 2013 for killing 13 people and wounding dozens at Fort Hood.
- This would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961, and by firing squad.
What The Pentagon Announced And Who Decides What Happens Next
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended execution by U.S. Army firing squad for Nidal Malik Hasan, and President Trump approved that recommendation. Parnell added that the Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution. The announcement did not include a date or location. It described the approval chain and the method in plain terms and placed scheduling authority with Army leadership.
United Press International reported the plan would mark the first U.S. military execution in more than 60 years, underscoring the rarity of the action. Reports on October 5 and 6 carried the same core details: Hegseth recommended the method, Trump approved it, and the Army Secretary will finalize logistics. The Pentagon’s public message aligned across several outlets, which framed the event as a significant step in a long-dormant military capital process.
The Case: Conviction, Sentence, And Victims Of The Fort Hood Attack
Hasan was convicted by a military jury in 2013 for the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. The attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 others. Coverage describes him as a former Army major and psychiatrist at the base. The conviction carried a death sentence under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Outlets summarized the years of appeals and noted that courts upheld the sentence before this week’s announcement of the approved method.
CBS News reported the Pentagon’s statement late Monday and repeated the same approval chain and method. The network emphasized that the plan is for an Army firing squad rather than another method. It also quoted the line assigning authority for time and place to the Secretary of the Army. That detail points to the process still ahead within the service, even as the decision on method has been made at the highest levels.
Why This Is Historically Unusual And What It Signals About Government Process
United Press International highlighted that the last U.S. military execution took place in 1961, making this action a historic break from decades without such a penalty in the armed forces. Firing squads have deep roots in military discipline and have been rare in modern American practice. That combination—military venue and firing squad—makes the Hasan case stand out as an event that touches history, law, and norms all at once.
🚨Trump has approved the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former U.S. Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
🔷 Hasan opened fire on soldiers who were waiting at a medical clinic, killing 13 people and injuring 32 others.
🔷 He was convicted… pic.twitter.com/TiF05C1dO3
— Leah_לאה (@Weisslbj333Leah) October 6, 2026
For many Americans, this decision raises larger questions about government competence and transparency. The announcement came through a Pentagon spokesman and left scheduling and protocols to the Army. People on the right and left often feel leaders talk tough but dodge details. Here, the chain of command is clear, but the next steps will test whether the system moves with clarity, fairness, and speed—values that many believe the federal government has not delivered in recent years.
Sources:
nampa.org, upi.com, cnn.com, washingtonexaminer.com
