Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke out on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, against a Department of Defense plan to livestream the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan. Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on Dec. 3. Archbishop Coakley described the decision as a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death" and urged officials to reconsider, citing religious teachings against repaying evil for evil.
The Pentagon confirmed that the execution will be made public via livestream, following a recommendation by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that was approved by President Donald Trump. Hegseth stated during a Wednesday interview on Real America's Voice News that victims and survivors "deserve justice without delays" and that the public nature of the event would ensure people understand the "serious consequences" for such actions. The military has not performed an execution by firing squad since 1945, and its last execution of any kind took place in 1961.
The proposal has drawn criticism from members of both political parties and international organizations. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called the decision "beyond disgusting," comparing public executions to those held in "oppressive dictatorships." Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) described the plan as "medieval" and compared the format to executions conducted by the Islamic State group. The United Nations human rights office told AFP that a livestream would be "tantamount to a public execution" and would violate the prohibition of torture. Conversely, Alonzo Lunsford, a survivor of the shooting who was shot seven times, told the BBC he supports the firing squad method as "befitting" for the crime, though he questioned whether the general public should have access to the stream.
The policy change sets a new precedent for federal transparency and the use of technology in the justice system. However, legal scholars such as Eugene R. Fidell and John Mills suggest the December date may be delayed. They note that Hasan may still file a habeas petition—a legal recourse for prisoners to challenge the legality of their detention—in civilian court. Furthermore, Army Regulation 190-55 currently restricts execution witnesses to specific groups, including relatives and journalists, and explicitly excludes anyone under the age of 18. It is not yet reported if the Pentagon will waive these existing regulations to facilitate a broad public livestream or what technical safeguards would be used to restrict the audience.
What happens next: The execution is currently scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at Fort Hood. The Pentagon stated on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, that more details regarding the livestream logistics would follow. Legal experts anticipate Hasan will pursue further appeals in federal court, which could result in a stay of execution. Vice President JD Vance also expressed uncertainty about the plan on Friday, stating he was not sure it would happen and that he would not watch the stream if it were broadcast. Final confirmation of the broadcast method and any potential court-ordered delays are expected in the coming weeks.