The Pentagon is moving to secure President Donald Trump’s final approval to execute Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. If authorized, it would be the first military execution carried out since 1961.
According to the Daily Caller, the Department of War has formally begun the process of requesting presidential sign-off following Hasan’s failed final appeal earlier this year. Hasan, now on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, received a death sentence in 2013 for killing 13 people and injuring 32 others during his rampage at the Texas Army base.
Officials confirmed that the request is currently moving through the Army’s chain of command before reaching Trump’s desk. Under military law, executions require presidential approval after recommendations pass through senior defense leadership.
Calls for justice intensify
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly voiced his strong support for carrying out the sentence. “I am 100 percent committed to ensuring the death penalty is carried out for Nidal Hasan,” he told the outlet, adding that the victims and their families deserve justice without delay.
Hasan’s case has long been a point of controversy due to how it was classified at the time. Despite his radical Islamist motivations, the Pentagon designated the shooting as “workplace violence,” a decision that angered survivors and families.
The Army psychiatrist admitted to a military panel that he believed the shooting was justified, claiming the soldiers targeted were “going against the Islamic Empire.” His statements further strengthened arguments that his crimes were terror-inspired.
Military legal process in motion
Hasan is among only four inmates currently on the U.S. military’s death row. Executions under military law follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which sets separate procedures from civilian courts.
The process requires multiple stages of internal review. The Army staff makes the initial recommendation, which is then passed to the Army secretary and Secretary of War before formally reaching the president.
“Inmate Hasan’s packet is now in the staffing process for presidential action,” a Department of War official confirmed. The step signifies the last stage before an execution can be scheduled.
Trump administration’s stance on executions
The Trump administration has previously expressed firm support for capital punishment. Trump has reiterated that certain violent crimes should face the death penalty, underscoring his administration’s willingness to approve executions.
Earlier this year, Trump vowed to seek the death penalty for anyone convicted of murder in the District of Columbia. Officials say the decision on Hasan’s fate could serve as a defining moment in applying military capital punishment.
The White House has not yet commented on the Pentagon’s request. However, defense officials believe Trump is likely to approve it, given his record.
Potential impact of decision
The last military execution took place in 1961, when Pvt. John Bennett was hanged after being convicted of rape and attempted murder. Since then, multiple service members have been sentenced to death, but none have been executed.
Hasan’s case could set a precedent as the first in more than six decades. Legal experts argue the decision may shape future approaches toward capital cases involving servicemembers.
For survivors and victims’ families, the Pentagon’s request signals the closest moment yet to seeing Hasan’s death sentence carried out. Many have pushed for a resolution in the case for over a decade and are watching closely for Trump’s decision.
