In a historic move, the United States Army is set to carry out an execution by firing squad for the first time since 1961.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has suggested this method for the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the individual convicted of the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, where he attacked unarmed American soldiers. President Donald Trump has given his approval, as announced by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on social media late Monday.
Hasan, who was a military psychiatrist, is responsible for the deaths of 13 people and injuries to 32 others during the assault, all while yelling “Allahu Akbar.” According to Parnell, the Secretary of the Army will determine the specifics regarding the execution. “Judgement day for Hasan has finally come,” he concluded.
The shooting took place at Fort Hood, one of the largest Army bases globally, and Hasan had links to Anwar al-Awlaki, a cleric associated with Al-Qaeda, as reported by ABC News back in 2009.
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. He killed 13 people and wounded 32 others while shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution. Judgement day for Hasan has finally come.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) October 5, 2026
A U.S. official relayed to ABC News that Hasan once expressed eagerness to discuss “non-alcoholic wine” with Awlaki in the afterlife. Interestingly, despite earning around $92,000 a year as an Army Major, Hasan reportedly donated between $20,000 to $30,000 annually to Islamic charities.
When approached for comments, the Pentagon’s press office directed inquiries to Parnell’s social media post.
The final approval for Hasan’s execution had been initially reported in September 2025 by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Hegseth also mentioned, “I am 100 percent committed to ensuring the death penalty is carried out for Nidal Hasan… this savage terrorist deserves the harshest lawful punishment for his 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. The victims and survivors deserve justice without delays,” when speaking to the DCNF.
