Former US Army Major Nidal Hasan is set to face execution by firing squad for the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
US President Donald Trump approved the death sentence on October 2 after Hasan’s conviction and sentence survived the military appeals process. The Army later scheduled the execution for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood in Texas.
The decision brings a long-running death penalty case closer to its conclusion. However, the planned execution also marks an unusual moment in US military history.
Why Is Nidal Hasan Facing Execution?
Hasan was a former Army psychiatrist when he opened fire at Fort Hood in November 2009. The attack killed 13 people and injured 32 others.
A military court later convicted Hasan in connection with the shooting. In August 2013, the military jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death.
The death sentence remained unresolved for years while Hasan pursued legal challenges. However, the US Supreme Court denied his request for review in March 2025.
That decision cleared an important legal hurdle in the case. Subsequently, the death sentence moved toward presidential approval under the military justice system.
Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution
President Donald Trump approved Hasan’s death sentence on October 2, according to the US Army.
The decision followed a recommendation from the defence secretary. The Army then directed that Hasan be executed by firing squad.
The Army has set December 3, 2026, as the execution date. The execution is scheduled to take place at Fort Hood at 1 p.m. Central Time.
The planned method has attracted particular attention because military executions remain extremely rare.
What Happened at Fort Hood in 2009?
Hasan carried out the shooting at Fort Hood in Texas in November 2009. The attack targeted service members at the sprawling military installation.
Thirteen people died in the shooting, while another 32 people suffered injuries. Hasan was later arrested after being shot by responding officers.
The injuries left Hasan paralysed, and he has remained on military death row since his conviction.
The case then moved through a lengthy legal process before reaching its current stage.
Why Is the Execution Significant?
If carried out, Hasan’s execution would mark the first US military execution since 1961. It would also represent a rare use of a firing squad within the US military justice system.
The Army has confirmed that the president holds the authority to approve a military death sentence. After Trump’s approval, the Army selected the date and location for the execution.
Therefore, the December execution would conclude a case that has remained active for more than a decade.
For now, Hasan remains on death row while the scheduled execution date approaches. The planned firing squad execution at Fort Hood would also bring him back to the military base where the deadly attack took place.
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