Why is the Justice Department adding firing squads now?

The administration aims to expedite executions and remove obstacles like lethal injection drug shortages that have delayed or prevented death sentences from being carried out.

How many federal inmates are on death row?

Dozens of inmates remain on federal death row as of early 2025, though the exact number fluctuates with new sentences and appeals.

Which states currently allow firing squad executions?

Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina have authorized firing squads, typically as a backup when lethal injection drugs are unavailable.

What happened to federal executions under Biden?

The Biden administration imposed an informal moratorium on federal executions, effectively pausing capital punishment at the federal level until this policy change.

Will inmates be able to choose their execution method?

The Justice Department has not disclosed whether inmates will have a choice or if the department will make that determination.

DOJ Authorizes Firing Squads for Federal Executions

WASHINGTON —

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department will permit firing squads as a method of execution for federal death penalty cases, marking a significant expansion of capital punishment options under the Trump administration.

The policy shift comes as the administration moves to expedite and increase the pace of federal executions, according to NPR. The decision adds firing squads to the existing methods available for carrying out death sentences in federal cases, which have historically relied primarily on lethal injection.

Policy Shift Under Trump Administration

The adoption of firing squads represents a departure from recent federal execution practices. While some states have authorized alternative execution methods in response to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs, the federal government has rarely employed methods other than lethal injection in modern executions.

The Justice Department's move signals the administration's intent to remove potential obstacles to carrying out death sentences. Lethal injection protocols have faced legal challenges and practical difficulties, including pharmaceutical companies' refusal to supply drugs for executions.

Federal Death Penalty Context

The federal death penalty applies to a narrow category of crimes, including terrorism, espionage, large-scale drug trafficking, and murder of federal officials. As of early 2025, dozens of inmates remain on federal death row.

The Trump administration conducted 13 federal executions during its first term between July 2020 and January 2021, ending a 17-year hiatus in federal capital punishment. The Biden administration subsequently imposed an informal moratorium on federal executions, which this policy change effectively reverses.

State Precedents and Legal Landscape

Several states have authorized firing squads as backup execution methods in recent years. Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and South Carolina have passed laws permitting firing squads when lethal injection drugs are unavailable or if inmates choose the method.

Proponents of alternative execution methods argue they provide necessary options when pharmaceutical suppliers refuse to participate in executions. Critics contend that expanding execution methods circumvents growing opposition to capital punishment and the practical difficulties that reflect changing societal attitudes.

What Remains Unclear

The Justice Department has not released detailed protocols for firing squad executions, including training requirements, witness procedures, or the criteria for selecting this method over lethal injection. It is unclear whether inmates will be permitted to choose their execution method or whether the decision rests solely with the department. The timeline for implementing firing squad executions and whether any current death row inmates face imminent execution under the new policy has not been disclosed. Legal challenges to the policy are likely, though their scope and potential success remain uncertain.