The United States Army is scheduled to execute former Major Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad on December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas. This will mark the first US military execution in more than 65 years. US President Donald Trump approved Hasan’s execution on October 2, 2026. Acting Secretary of the US Army Adam Telle announced the date and location on social media, a confirmation later echoed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on October 5, 2026.
Hasan was convicted for the November 5, 2009, shooting rampage at Fort Hood, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including a pregnant soldier, and injuries to 32 others. An army psychiatrist, Hasan entered a medical building where soldiers were undergoing checkups, shouted “Allahu akbar” (Arabic for “God is greater”), and opened fire with a laser-sighted handgun. He later described himself as a soldier who had “switched sides,” stating his actions were an effort to prevent soldiers from deploying to Afghanistan and killing his fellow Muslims.
In August 2013, a military court found Hasan guilty of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder, sentencing him to death. He made little effort to defend himself during the trial, telling jurors that evidence would show he was the shooter. Hasan exhausted all his legal appeals in April 2025, paving the way for the current execution order.
Death sentences are exceedingly rare within the US military justice system, and executions are even rarer. Currently, only four men, including Hasan, are on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The last military execution occurred in 1961, when Private John A. Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder. The last time the military carried out an execution by firing squad was on November 9, 1945, shortly after World War II, when Private Eddie Slovik was executed in France for desertion.
The announcement of Hasan’s execution has raised significant procedural concerns among military law experts. John Galligan, a retired colonel and former military judge who represented Hasan in civil matters, called the rush to conduct the execution “horrific.” Galligan claimed that the army did not follow its mandated process for notifying Hasan of his condemnation. Army Regulation 190-55 stipulates that a prisoner must be personally informed of the presidential decision by the commandant, accompanied by a chaplain and, if available, a defense attorney. According to Galligan, Hasan stated no legal counsel was present during his notification.
Galligan also questioned the decision to conduct the execution at Fort Hood, given Hasan’s medical condition. Paralyzed from the waist down and using a wheelchair, the logistics of transporting Hasan from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Fort Hood, Texas, remain unclear. Galligan expressed confusion over the urgency of the execution and the choice of location.
President Trump has long advocated for increasing the use of capital punishment. During the final days of his first term, between 2020 and early 2021, he authorized 13 federal executions, making him the most prolific execution president in over 130 years. In 2026, he directed the military to proceed with a firing squad execution.
This decision also comes just days after a botched lethal injection attempt on Krista Pike in Tennessee on September 30, 2026. Pike reportedly remained alive and in critical condition in a hospital after receiving two doses of pentobarbital, an incident that reignited debate over execution methods.
While Acting Secretary Adam Telle confirmed Hasan would be executed by firing squad, specific details regarding the procedure remain undisclosed. The US Army and the Pentagon have declined to provide information on where on base the execution will take place, what personnel will be part of the squad, or what specific protocols they will follow. Army regulations for execution do not contain specific protocols for particular methods.
In previous military firing squad executions, nearly 80 years ago, one shooter was reportedly given a blank round, allowing all members to plausibly believe they did not fire the fatal shot.
Despite the December 3, 2026, execution date, Hasan may still be able to delay the process by filing a Habeas Corpus petition in federal civilian court. Habeas Corpus is a legal procedure allowing an incarcerated person to challenge the lawfulness of their imprisonment. According to Eugene R. Fidell, a Yale Law School lecturer specializing in military law, such a petition could potentially delay the execution for years, possibly outlasting the current administration and its “penchant for executions.”
