The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced plans to reuse the firing squad as a method of execution. The goal is to speed up the federal death penalty system.In a statement issued Friday, the department said it would “expand the protocol to include additional methods of execution such as firing squad” while restoring policies used during Donald Trump’s first administration.
This move represents a sharp shift from the approach taken under former US President Joe Biden, whose administration imposed restrictions on federal executions.Officials said they are also reusing lethal injection protocols and streamlining internal processes to reduce delays in executions.The ministry added that the changes aim to ensure that executions can be carried out once prisoners have exhausted their appeals, describing the move as necessary to achieve justice and improve public safety.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the previous administration’s handling of the death penalty, saying it failed to protect the public.“The previous administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to prosecute and implement final punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child killers, and police killers,” he said.“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims,” Blanche added.
The Department also plans to shorten the time between conviction and execution by reviewing due process and reducing delays in the appeals process. She said further steps are being considered, including changes to how death sentences are carried out and determining when clemency petitions can be submitted.This policy shift comes after an executive order issued by Trump on his first day back in office, directing the Justice Department to prioritize death penalty cases and strengthen enforcement.
Since then, officials say dozens of cases have been reviewed, with new death sentences allowed in several cases.Under the previous administration, federal executions were paused amid concerns about the lethal injection method and opposition to the death penalty. The Department of Justice has now officially lifted this moratorium.Execution squads remain rare in the United States, although they are still permitted in some states under specific circumstances. In recent years, its use has become limited, with only a few executions having been carried out in this way since the 1970s.
