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- calendar_today October 8, 2026
Pentagon to Livestream Nidal Hasan Execution
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that the upcoming execution of former Army major Nidal Hasan will be made accessible for public viewing through a livestream. This decision was confirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking a rare public military execution in the United States.
Details of the Scheduled Execution
Nidal Hasan, convicted for the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, is scheduled to face a firing squad on December 3 at 1 p.m. The execution will take place at Fort Hood and is intended to be witnessed by the public, according to Hegseth. Speaking on Real America's Voice, Hegseth stated, "He's gonna get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be. We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public — because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things."
Trump Administration and Pentagon Announcement
The plan for Hasan's execution by Army firing squad was recommended by Secretary Hegseth and subsequently approved by President Trump. This was confirmed earlier in the week by the chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on social media. CBS News has reached out to Hasan's attorney for comment, but no response is noted.
Background: 2009 Fort Hood Shooting
Nidal Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted in a 2013 court-martial of murdering 13 people and injuring more than 30 others at Fort Hood. During his trial, Hasan acknowledged responsibility for the attack, claiming he opened fire on fellow soldiers in an attempt to protect Islamic insurgents from the U.S. military. He was sentenced to death as a result of the court-martial ruling.
Rarity of Military Executions and the Use of Firing Squad
If carried out, Hasan's execution will be the first military execution of an American service member since 1961, when a soldier was hanged for criminal offenses. The use of a firing squad for executions is uncommon; it was most recently employed in South Carolina in 2025, the first such executions since 2010.
Legal Appeals and Unusual Aspects of Hasan's Case
Hasan's case was marked by a lengthy appeals process. Representing himself at trial, Hasan had clashes with his court-appointed standby attorneys, who expressed concerns that he was seeking the death penalty intentionally. In 2024, Hasan petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing that his right to a public trial was violated when the judge cleared the courtroom to discuss issues with his attorneys. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case last year, leaving the original sentence in place.
Public Execution and Its Implications
The Pentagon's decision to publicly livestream the execution is unprecedented in recent U.S. military history. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the intent to demonstrate the consequences for serious crimes, such as the Fort Hood shooting. The rare use of firing squad and the livestream will likely draw national attention to both military capital punishment and the handling of high-profile cases.
Source: cbsnews.com.
