The Trump administration has authorized the use of firing squads as a method of execution for federal death row inmates, marking a significant shift in U.S. Capital punishment policy. This decision comes amid ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
According to verified reports from Belgian news outlet De Standaard, the administration has moved to approve firing squads for federal executions, a method not used at the federal level since the 1960s. The policy change reflects the administration’s broader approach to criminal justice and punishment.
The authorization aligns with President Donald Trump’s long-standing support for capital punishment and his administration’s efforts to resume federal executions after a 17-year hiatus. Federal executions were restarted in July 2020 under the Trump administration, ending a de facto moratorium that had been in place since 2003.
Firing squad executions remain rare in the United States, with only three states—Utah, Mississippi, and Oklahoma—currently authorizing the method. Utah is the only state to have used firing squads in the modern era, most recently in 2010 for the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner.
The move has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts who argue that firing squads constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. However, supporters contend that the method is swift, reliable, and less prone to complications than lethal injection, which has faced increasing scrutiny due to drug shortages and botched executions.
This development occurs against a backdrop of broader political tensions, including the ongoing public disagreement between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV over foreign policy, particularly regarding the war with Iran. The Pope has repeatedly criticized Trump’s approach to Iran, calling threats against the Iranian people “truly unacceptable” and emphasizing that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.
Despite their differences on Iran and other global issues, both Trump and Pope Leo XIV have acknowledged their right to hold differing views. Trump stated publicly that “I’m not fighting with him” and that “the pope can say what he wants and I want him to say what he wants but I can disagree,” reflecting a rare moment of de-escalation in their public feud.
The authorization of firing squads at the federal level raises questions about the future of capital punishment in America. With several states moving to abolish the death penalty and others struggling to obtain lethal injection drugs, alternative methods like firing squads may gain renewed attention as states seek to maintain execution capabilities.
Legal challenges to the new policy are expected, particularly regarding whether firing squads meet constitutional standards for humane execution. The Supreme Court has previously upheld various execution methods, including lethal injection and electrocution, but has not directly ruled on the constitutionality of firing squads in the modern era.
As the debate continues, the Trump administration’s decision underscores the enduring divide in American society over the morality, effectiveness, and fairness of the death penalty. For now, federal death row inmates face the prospect of execution by firing squad—a method last used federally during World War II for the execution of Private Eddie Slovik, the only U.S. Soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on this developing story and other breaking news at the intersection of sports, politics, and culture.
What are your thoughts on the use of firing squads for federal executions? Share your perspective in the comments below and join the conversation.
