Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans on Thursday, October 8, 2026, to publicly livestream the execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. The execution, which was approved by President Donald Trump, is scheduled to take place by firing squad at Fort Hood on December 3 at 1 p.m. local time.
Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist, was convicted for the 2009 shooting that killed 13 people and injured more than 30 others. Hegseth stated the broadcast is intended to show that there are serious consequences for such actions. The timing of the execution is set to match the hour the 2009 attack began.
Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), have criticized the livestream plan. Ossoff described Hegseth as "deeply unwell," while Tillis and Murphy compared the proposal to public executions conducted by oppressive regimes. Former National Counterterrorism Center head Joe Kent stated the broadcast could serve as a radicalization tool for terrorists.
Vice President JD Vance expressed doubt regarding the livestream while stating he would not watch the broadcast. The last military execution occurred in 1961 by hanging, and the last U.S. military execution by firing squad took place in 1945. The United States has not conducted a public execution of any kind since 1936.
At the scale of the federal government, this marks the first use of the military death penalty in 65 years. The action involves active-duty soldiers who are scheduled to serve as the firing squad, a method that has not been utilized by the military since the execution of Pvt. Edward Donald Slovik in 1945. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the public nature of the event is necessary for deterrence, though critics such as Joe Kent have warned it may instead facilitate terrorist recruitment.
A person living in the U.S. will notice this change through the potential availability of the broadcast on December 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EST). The knock-on effects include potential shifts in military judicial policy and international diplomatic standing. While the execution date is firm, it remains to be seen if legal challenges or congressional pressure will alter the livestreaming component of the plan. The next milestone will be the scheduled execution date at Fort Hood.