Pentagon to Livestream Firing Squad Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military will livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood massacre. Scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, the execution will be carried out by a firing squad of soldiers, marking the first military execution of its kind since 1945. While the Trump administration characterizes the public nature of the event as a necessary demonstration of 'serious consequences,' legal experts suggest that potential habeas petitions in civilian courts could significantly delay the process, potentially outlasting the current administration.

// Background

Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army Major and psychiatrist, carried out a mass shooting at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009, while shouting 'Allahu akbar.' He claimed the attack was intended to protect Muslims from U.S. military actions in Afghanistan. Paralyzed during the attack, Hasan represented himself at his 2013 trial, where he admitted to the killings and was sentenced to death. The U.S. military has not executed a service member since 1961 (John Bennett by hanging) and has not used a firing squad since 1945 (Eddie Slovik for desertion).

// Key Developments

• Execution of Nidal Hasan is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Fort Hood, Texas.
• The Pentagon confirmed the event will be livestreamed, making it the first public execution in the U.S. since 1936.
• Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in a 2009 terrorist attack at the military base.
• The execution would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since World War II.
• Legal experts warn that Hasan may file a habeas petition in civilian court, which could delay the execution for years.