Pentagon Orders Firing Squad Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan, a First in Over 60 Years

The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that Nidal Malik Hasan, the former US Army major responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, will be put to death by firing squad, marking the first military execution using that method since the conclusion of World War Two. The announcement was made by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell through a post on social media, stating that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had recommended the move and President Donald Trump had given his approval.

Hasan, a psychiatrist who served in the US Army, opened fire at the sprawling Texas military installation on 5 November 2009, killing 13 unarmed soldiers and wounding another 32. The assault occurred inside a crowded medical processing building where service members were waiting for routine health checks and vaccinations before deploying overseas. At the time, it stood as the deadliest non-combat attack ever carried out on an American military base.

During his court-martial in 2013, Hasan admitted to being the gunman and offered an apology for what he described as "any mistakes." He also told the panel that he believed his actions were intended to protect Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan. A jury composed of 13 officers convicted him on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, unanimously recommending the death penalty.

Parnell, in his statement, declared that "judgement day for Hasan has finally come." He noted that the Secretary of the Army will determine both the timing and the location of the execution. The announcement represents a significant development in a case that has lingered on military death row for more than a decade, with Hasan remaining one of only four inmates currently awaiting execution under the US military justice system.

Under American military law, a president must personally approve any execution before it can proceed. The process also demands an appellate review and a final legal judgment confirming the sentence's validity. These procedural safeguards reflect the unique nature of capital punishment within the armed forces, which operates separately from the civilian system that handles the vast majority of executions in the United States.

The history of military capital punishment in the US has been marked by long periods of inactivity and legal uncertainty. In 1983, the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled the military death penalty unconstitutional, but the practice was reinstated just one year later through an executive order issued by then-President Ronald Reagan. No military execution has been carried out since 1961, when Army private John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder, making the pending Hasan execution a notable historical moment.

Firing squad executions remain rare across the United States. Last year, South Carolina carried out its first-ever firing squad execution, which also represented the first use of that method anywhere in the country in 15 years. Beyond South Carolina, four other states permit the firing squad as an execution method: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah. The majority of American executions occur at the state level, with 27 states, the federal government and the military all retaining capital punishment as a legally available option.

President Trump has consistently positioned himself as a strong supporter of the death penalty. On his first day back in office in January 2025, he signed an executive order reinstating federal capital punishment, reversing the moratorium imposed by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The justice department under Biden had paused federal executions, a policy that Trump's order explicitly overturned.

In that executive order, Trump characterised capital punishment as "an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens." The language underscores his administration's commitment to expanding the use of the death penalty at the federal level, even as public opinion on capital punishment remains divided across the country.

The Fort Hood attack sent shockwaves through the US military establishment, prompting a comprehensive review of security protocols on domestic bases. Soldiers who survived the shooting described scenes of chaos inside the medical building, where they had been unarmed and unprepared for an attack from a fellow service member. The incident also sparked intense debates about radicalisation within the ranks and the adequacy of mental health evaluations for military personnel.

Hasan's background as an army psychiatrist raised difficult questions about how the military assesses the psychological fitness of its members, particularly those who expressed troubling ideological views before the attack. Investigations after the shooting revealed that colleagues had raised concerns about Hasan's behaviour and statements prior to the massacre, leading to criticisms that warning signs had been overlooked.

The execution order also draws attention to the broader debate over capital punishment in the United States. While some argue that the death penalty serves as a deterrent and delivers justice for victims' families, opponents contend that it is costly, prone to error and inconsistent in its application. The rare use of the firing squad specifically tends to reignite discussions about the most humane methods of execution, with supporters of the method arguing it is swift and certain, while critics describe it as archaic and barbaric.

For the families of the 13 soldiers killed at Fort Hood, the announcement may bring a measure of closure after years of legal proceedings and appeals. Many have waited more than 15 years to see the sentence carried out, enduring lengthy delays caused by the military's complex appellate process. The final decision on when Hasan will face the firing squad now rests with the Secretary of the Army, though further legal challenges could still arise.

The case continues to resonate as a somber chapter in American military history, one that reshaped how the armed forces approach internal security and the threat of violence from within. As the Pentagon moves forward with unprecedented plans for a firing squad execution, the nation confronts difficult questions about justice, punishment and the legacy of one of its deadliest domestic military attacks.