Pete Hegseth vows to make first firing squad execution in decades public, tell me about this news today
09-10-2026
Pete Hegseth Confirms Public Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the military execution of convicted 2009 Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will be made accessible to the public, with plans for the proceeding to be live-streamed.
The development follows presidential approval to carry out the death sentence against Hasan, a former U.S. Army major and psychiatrist convicted in 2013 on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.
Key Details of the Execution Plan
Method of Execution: Hasan is scheduled to face a military firing squad composed of active-duty soldiers armed with rifles.
Date and Location: The execution is set for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood (officially redesignated Fort Cavazos) in Texas, returning the condemned officer to the installation where the 2009 attack occurred.
Timing: Hegseth stated the execution will take place at the precise time of day corresponding to when Hasan initiated the mass shooting.
Public Access and Broadcast: Hegseth and military officials confirmed that the procedure will not be held behind closed doors; instead, the public will be permitted to watch via an official military live stream, marking an unprecedented level of broadcast visibility for modern American capital punishment.
Historical Context and Legal Significance
Hasan’s execution marks two major milestones in U.S. military justice:
It will represent the first U.S. military execution of any kind since 1961, when Army Private John A. Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth.
It will be the first military execution by firing squad since January 31, 1945, when Private Eddie Slovik was executed for desertion during World War II.
Hasan has spent over a decade on military death row at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth after exhausting his legal appeals. Hegseth emphasized that carrying out the death penalty publicly by firing squad serves as an explicit message of accountability and deterrence for treason and acts of terror committed within the armed forces.