The US Department of Defense has confirmed that the planned execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, will be livestreamed, according to media reports.
Hasan’s execution by firing squad is scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas. The Pentagon said further details about the livestream arrangements would follow.
Pentagon Announces Livestream Plan
The announcement followed comments by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the execution would be made public so people could witness the consequences of serious crimes. A Pentagon official subsequently confirmed to news outlets that the execution would be livestreamed.
The plan has drawn attention because executions in the United States are generally witnessed by a limited group of authorised people rather than broadcast to the wider public. Military regulations specify who may attend an execution, and the details of how the proposed livestream would operate have not yet been fully explained.
What Happened at Fort Hood in 2009?
On November 5, 2009, Hasan opened fire at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others. He was an Army psychiatrist and held the rank of major at the time.
A military court convicted him in 2013 and sentenced him to death. The case became one of the deadliest shootings at a US military installation and prompted scrutiny of security procedures and how warning signs had been handled.
Hasan is being held on military death row at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
A Rare Military Execution
If carried out as scheduled, Hasan’s execution would be the first execution by the US military since 1961, according to reports. The use of a firing squad is also unusual in the modern American military justice system.
President Donald Trump approved the execution plan following a recommendation from Hegseth, the Pentagon has said. However, the scheduled date does not necessarily mean the execution is legally guaranteed to proceed on that day.
Hasan’s case has involved years of legal proceedings, and any remaining legal challenges could affect the timetable.
Questions Over Public Access
The proposed livestream has raised questions about how the military will balance public access with existing execution rules. Hasan’s lawyer has also questioned aspects of the arrangements, according to US media reports.
The Pentagon has not yet released full details about the broadcast, including how it would be distributed or what viewers would be permitted to see.
