Trump approves firing squad execution

President Donald J. Trump has approved the execution of former U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan by Army firing squad for the 2009 Fort Hood attack that killed 13 people.

“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended, and President Donald J. Trump has approved, death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009.”

Hasan killed 13 in 2009 attack

Hasan opened fire inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, killing 13 people and wounding 31.

Military court-martial conviction

Hasan was convicted of 13 specifications of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in August 2013.

Court appeals confirm sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces affirmed the judgment in March 2024, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied Hasan's petition for review on March 31, 2025.

First military execution since 1961

If carried out, Hasan's execution would be the first death sentence carried out by the U.S. military since Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed by hanging at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on April 13, 1961.