Secretary Hegseth Seeks Trump's Approval for First Military Execution in 60 Years
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth seeks President Trump's approval to execute Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, potentially the first US military execution in 60 years.
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Overview
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is seeking final approval from President Donald Trump to execute Nidal Malik Hasan, the gunman responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting.
- Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death for killing 14 people and injuring dozens in the Fort Hood attack, with his final legal challenges and appeals rejected earlier this year.
- The Army secretary has formally recommended Hasan's execution, with Army staff needing to pass forward the recommendation according to established military regulations.
- If approved by President Trump, this would mark the first execution carried out by the US military in 60 years, since Army Pvt. John Bennett in 1961.
- The Pentagon is seeking President Trump's direct approval for this unprecedented military execution, highlighting the gravity and historical significance of the decision.
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FAQ
Nidal Malik Hasan is a former U.S. Army major and psychiatrist convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, in which he killed 13 people and injured over 30 others. He was found guilty of premeditated murder and attempted murder and sentenced to death.
If approved and carried out, executing Nidal Malik Hasan would be the first military execution in the United States in 60 years, the last being Army Pvt. John Bennett in 1961.
Hasan's death penalty conviction was unanimously upheld by a top military court after all legal challenges and appeals were rejected. The Army secretary has recommended his execution, pending final approval from the President.
Because a military execution has not been carried out for 60 years, the Pentagon seeks the President's direct approval due to the gravity and historical significance of the case as the Commander-in-Chief.
On November 5, 2009, Hasan opened fire at a readiness center on Fort Hood, killing 13 people and injuring 30 others. The attack was the deadliest on a U.S. military base since 9/11. Hasan was paralyzed after being shot by a civilian officer and later tried and sentenced to death by court-martial. The shooting prompted multiple investigations and a broader conversation about military terrorism.
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