Key Takeaways
- Nidal Malik Hasan is scheduled for execution by U.S. Army firing squad on December 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CST at Fort Hood, Texas.
- The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that the execution will be livestreamed publicly, marking an unprecedented move in modern military history.
- President Donald Trump approved the death warrant following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, making it the first military execution in over 60 years.
- The use of a firing squad has not been employed by the U.S. military since World War II in 1945.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that the upcoming execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be broadcast via a public livestream. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the decision was made to ensure the process is "public," emphasizing that there must be "serious consequences" for the 2009 terrorist attack that left 13 people dead and 32 others injured.
The execution is set to take place at Fort Hood (now officially designated Fort Cavazos), the same location where Hasan, then an Army psychiatrist, opened fire on unarmed soldiers at a medical processing center. This marks the first time the U.S. military will carry out a death sentence since the 1961 hanging of Private John Bennett and the first military firing squad since the 1945 execution of Eddie Slovik.
Secretary Hegseth confirmed the details during an interview, noting that the Trump administration viewed the firing squad as a fitting method for the "radical Islamist attack." While the Pentagon has clarified that a livestream will be provided, officials have yet to release specific technical details or the platform that will host the broadcast.
Legal experts suggest that while the date is set for December 3, Hasan may still attempt to delay the proceedings through habeas corpus appeals in federal civilian courts. However, the Pentagon and the Department of the Army are moving forward with preparations, with the Commandant of the United States Disciplinary Barracks designated as the execution officer.
The decision to livestream the event has sparked significant debate among legal and human rights observers, as the U.S. has not held a truly public execution in nearly 90 years. The move aligns with the administration's broader push to accelerate and increase the visibility of federal capital punishment, following a recent pause in federal executions during the previous term.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.