Firing Squad Returns – Army Sets Date

For the first time in more than 60 years, the U.S. Army has set a date, place, and method to execute a military prisoner — by firing squad at Fort Hood.

Story Snapshot

The Army scheduled Nidal Hasan’s execution for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas.
President Trump approved the death sentence and the firing-squad method after a Pentagon recommendation.
Army rules set a 60–150 day window after presidential approval to carry out an execution.
Legal experts say federal habeas appeals could still delay the date for years.

What the Army Decided and When

On October 6, 2026, Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle ordered the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad at Fort Hood, Texas, on December 3 at 1 p.m. Central time. The Army named the Commandant of the United States Disciplinary Barracks as the execution officer, signaling that planning has moved from theory to practice. Hasan was convicted by court-martial in 2013 for the 2009 Fort Hood killings and received a death sentence, which the Army now says is ready to carry out.

Pentagon officials said President Trump approved the sentence and the chosen method after a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Under military law, a death sentence from a court-martial cannot be carried out until the President personally approves it, and this approval cleared the way for the Army to schedule the execution. Multiple outlets reported the same core facts: presidential approval, the firing squad method, and the Fort Hood location in December.

The Rules the Army Says It Is Following

The Army cited Army Regulation 190-55 as the rulebook for military executions, including the timing window that sets the execution date between 60 and 150 days after presidential approval. The Army’s statement also described a formal chain: after final legal review, the Judge Advocate General sends the trial record, any clemency requests, and a recommendation to the Secretary of the Army, who then forwards the packet up the chain for presidential decision. That process frames the Army’s claim that the case is postured for scheduling.

The timeline matters because military executions are extremely rare. The last U.S. military execution happened in 1961, and a firing squad has not been used by the military since World War Two-era cases, which raises pressure to show every step followed the rules. The method choice also draws attention. Some outlets noted that the Pentagon did not publicly explain why a firing squad was selected over lethal injection described in current regulations, which invites further questions about legal authority and policy judgment.

Open Questions and Possible Delays

Legal experts and a former Hasan attorney questioned whether notice rules were followed when the Army set the date. They pointed to a requirement that the commandant inform the prisoner with a chaplain and defense counsel present if possible. Those claims are not court rulings, but they show why rare cases face extra scrutiny. The Army’s reliance on internal procedures means even small errors could become grounds for challenge that a judge might weigh.

"Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, only the President can approve and order a military death sentence;

➡️ (Article 71(a); Rule for Courts-Martial 1207). Army Regulation 190-55, U.S. Army Corrections System:
➡️ Procedures for Military Executions (certified current 30… https://t.co/MitsVCE48t

— Manny Garcia🇺🇸🇵🇷🇺🇸 #1776 (@GarciaManny4) October 7, 2026

Federal appeals in civilian court could also slow things down. Reporters and legal analysts said a habeas corpus petition could pause the schedule, even after the President’s approval, and might stretch for years. NPR also noted that a new habeas filing could delay the process further. For families of the slain and those who survived the attack, that prospect is painful. For many Americans, it also feeds a wider fear that government processes are opaque, slow, and prone to missteps that erode trust.

Why This Moment Feels Bigger Than One Case

This case sits at the crossroad of justice, competence, and public faith. Families want a lawful sentence carried out. Citizens want clear, honest steps, free from politics. The Army says it has a plan and is following its own rules. Critics say the notice and method choices still need daylight. Both views share a plea for accountability. When a government acts with the power of life and death, every line in the rulebook must be visible and followed — without exception.