President Donald Trump has approved the use of a firing squad for the execution of former army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. This decision makes Hasan the first U.S. soldier to face execution by the military in over six decades.

The Pentagon announced that Hasan will be executed by firing squad following a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the president's approval. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the Army secretary will determine the specific time and place for the execution, declaring, “Judgement day for Hasan has finally come.”

Hasan was sentenced to death in August 2013 by a military jury after being found guilty of 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder. The 2009 attack at the Texas military base claimed the lives of 12 active-duty soldiers and one retired serviceman, while wounding 32 others. Hasan was apprehended at the scene and sustained injuries that left him partially paralyzed.

The Trump administration expanded the list of permissible execution methods in April to include firing squad, gas asphyxiation, and electrocution. Military executions are uncommon in the United States and require presidential approval under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

If carried out, Hasan's execution will be the first by the U.S. military since 1961, when an execution was conducted by hanging. Historical records suggest the last known military execution by firing squad occurred in November 1945.

The November 2009 shooting took place just weeks before Hasan was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan. During his court-martial, Hasan stated that his actions were intended to prevent soldiers from being sent to Afghanistan and to protect his fellow Muslims. He offered little defense during the proceedings.

This development revives attention on the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, one of the deadliest incidents on a U.S. military installation. The use of a firing squad, a method less commonly employed in civilian executions, underscores the unique nature of military justice.

Questions remain regarding the exact timeline for the execution and the final protocols that will be implemented. The Army secretary's forthcoming decision on the time and place will mark the next step in this protracted legal process.