For the first time in 65 years, the U.S. military plans to carry out an execution—by Army firing squad, approved by President Trump—for Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood killer.
Story Snapshot
- Pentagon says President Trump approved death by U.S. Army firing squad for Nidal Hasan.
- Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for killing 13 people and wounding 32 at Fort Hood in 2009.
- The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution.
- Reports say families were told to expect a December 3, 2026 date at Fort Hood.
What The Pentagon Announced
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended death by U.S. Army firing squad for Nidal Malik Hasan, and President Trump approved it. The statement adds that the Secretary of the Army will determine when and where the execution happens. This makes the method and chain of approval clear. It also signals an unusual step. Military executions are rare, and firing squad use is even rarer in modern times.
ABC News reported that Army policy sets a window for scheduling after presidential approval, with the Army secretary responsible for the final timetable. CBS reporting says an email to victim families identified December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, though that date was not in the Pentagon’s public language quoted so far. Together, these reports describe both the authority and the expected timing. Any final schedule rests with the Army secretary under established procedures.
Who Hasan Is And What He Did
Nidal Hasan is a former Army major and psychiatrist convicted in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. A military court sentenced him to death in 2013. The attack killed 13 people and wounded 32 others, according to multiple reports that have remained consistent for years. Hasan has been on military death row since the sentence. The decision to proceed now reflects a case long known to the public and to the military justice system.
News outlets describe this as the first U.S. military execution since 1961, when the Army hanged Private John Bennett at Fort Leavenworth. That long pause is part of why this decision stands out. Few military death sentences have reached the end stage since the modern system was set in 1984. The return to an execution—by firing squad—marks a sharp break from decades of delay or reversal in other cases.
Why The Method And Location Matter
Officials specified an Army firing squad rather than a generic method. That choice carries legal history and strong symbolism. Courts have upheld firing squad use in U.S. history, and the military used it more often in past wars than in recent decades. Still, most Americans have never seen the government use this method in their lifetimes. That is why the Pentagon’s language drew instant attention across the country.
CBS Texas reported that families were told to expect the execution at Fort Hood, the site of the crime. If the Army secretary sets that location, it will underscore a message that justice returns to where the harm happened. Supporters may see that as accountability and closure. Critics may argue it risks turning punishment into spectacle. Both reactions reflect a broader worry: many Americans believe the system serves the powerful more than victims, and they want proof that justice still works.
What Happens Next, And What To Watch
The Pentagon says the Army secretary will set the time and place, and reports point to early December within a policy window after approval. Standard legal steps could still shape the timeline, as with any death sentence. But the public facts are clear: President Trump approved death by U.S. Army firing squad, and the Army now controls scheduling. Watch for a formal Army notice confirming the date, location, and procedures before the window closes.
Why This Resonates Beyond One Case
This moment links three deep American concerns. Families want justice that is not delayed for decades. Service members want a system that protects them and holds attackers to account. Citizens across the spectrum want a government that acts with clarity and keeps its word. A rare military execution by firing squad tests all three. If the Army delivers a lawful, transparent process, it may rebuild a measure of trust in institutions that many feel have failed them.
Sources:
cnbc.com, cnn.com, nbclosangeles.com, cbsnews.com, kwtx.com, bbc.com, prisonlegalnews.org
