Trump Orders Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. military to execute Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, by firing squad, according to a statement issued by a Pentagon spokesperson. The decision marks a rare and significant use of military capital punishment, one that has not been employed in more than six decades.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the approval on X, stating that the execution would proceed under the recommendation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and with the president's authorization. Parnell declared, "Judgement day for Hasan has finally come." The Army secretary will now determine the timing and location of the execution.

Hasan, a U.S. citizen of Palestinian descent, was convicted in August 2013 on 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder. A military jury sentenced him to death for the attack, which took place at the Fort Hood military base in Texas—now known as Fort Cavazos—in November 2009.

On that day, Hasan opened fire with a handgun inside a medical facility on the base, killing 12 unarmed active-duty soldiers and one retired serviceman. Another 32 people were wounded in the assault. Police arrested Hasan at the scene after he was shot by responding officers, leaving him partially paralyzed from the waist down.

During his court-martial, Hasan represented himself and offered almost no defense. He told the court that his actions were intended to stop soldiers from deploying to Afghanistan, where he believed they would kill his fellow Muslims. The shooting occurred just weeks before Hasan himself was scheduled to deploy to the war zone.

The approval of a firing squad as the execution method follows an April decision by the Trump administration to expand the list of authorized federal execution methods. That policy added firing squad, gas asphyxiation, and electrocution as acceptable alternatives to lethal injection, which has faced growing legal and practical challenges in recent years.

Military executions in the United States are exceptionally rare. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, only the president can approve a military execution. If carried out, Hasan would become the first U.S. service member executed since 1961.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the 1961 execution was carried out by hanging. The last known military execution by firing squad occurred in November 1945 and was conducted "by musketry," the center reported.

The case has drawn attention not only for its severity but also for its lengthy legal odyssey. Hasan's conviction and death sentence have been under automatic appeal for years, a standard process in military death penalty cases. The order from Trump signals a push to move forward with an execution that has been stalled by years of judicial review.

Legal experts note that military executions are governed by a distinct set of procedures, including extensive appellate review and the president's final sign-off. The decision to use a firing squad—historically associated with military justice—adds a symbolic layer to the case, though it also raises questions about the practical and ethical dimensions of such an execution.

The Fort Hood shooting remains one of the deadliest mass shootings on a U.S. military installation. It prompted sweeping reviews of base security and the military's handling of internal threats. Hasan's radicalization and his ties to extremist ideology were extensively investigated, though the attack was ultimately classified as workplace violence rather than terrorism for legal purposes.

Parnell's statement did not specify a date for the execution, and it remains unclear how quickly the Army secretary will proceed. Further legal challenges are possible, and the case could still face delays through the military appeals process.

The administration's move aligns with a broader push to expand and expedite capital punishment at the federal level. In recent months, the Justice Department has prioritized seeking death sentences and exploring alternative execution methods, reflecting a shift in federal policy under the current administration.

Reactions to the order are likely to be divided. Supporters of the death penalty argue that Hasan's crimes warrant the ultimate punishment and that the long delay has denied justice to victims' families. Opponents, including human rights organizations, contend that military executions raise serious concerns about due process and the potential for error.

For the families of the 13 people killed and the dozens wounded, the order may bring a measure of closure—or reopen old wounds. Many have waited more than a decade for the sentence to be carried out, navigating a legal system that moves slowly in capital cases.

If the execution proceeds, it would mark a historic moment in U.S. military justice, ending a 65-year pause in military executions. It would also underscore the Trump administration's willingness to employ methods that had long fallen out of use.

The Army secretary's forthcoming decision on the time and place will be closely watched, as will any further legal filings. For now, the order stands as a definitive step toward an execution that many thought might never occur.