The US Justice Department (DOJ) has announced plans to bring back the firing squad as a method of execution, aiming to speed up the federal death penalty system. In a statement released on Friday, the department said it would expand the protocol to include additional manners of execution such as the firing squad while also restoring policies used during Donald Trump's first administration.
Shift from Biden Administration Policies
The move marks a sharp shift from the approach taken under former US President Joe Biden, whose administration had placed limits on federal executions. Officials said they are also reinstating the use of lethal injection protocols and simplifying internal processes to reduce delays in carrying out death sentences. The department added that the changes are intended to ensure that executions can proceed once inmates have exhausted their appeals, describing the move as necessary to deliver justice and improve public safety.
Criticism of Previous Administration
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the previous administration's handling of capital punishment, saying it had failed to protect the public. "The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers," he said. Blanche added: "Under President Trump's leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims."
Streamlining the Death Penalty Process
The department also plans to shorten the time between conviction and execution by reviewing legal procedures and reducing delays in the appeals process. It said further steps are being considered, including changes to how death sentences are pursued and limiting when clemency petitions can be filed. The policy shift follows an executive order issued by Trump on his first day back in office, directing the DOJ to prioritize death penalty cases and strengthen enforcement.
Since then, officials say dozens of cases have been reviewed, with new death sentences authorized in several instances. Under the previous administration, federal executions had been paused amid concerns about the method of lethal injection and opposition to capital punishment. The Justice Department has now formally reversed that moratorium.
Rarity of Firing Squads
Firing squads remain rare in the United States, though they are still permitted in some states under specific conditions. In recent years, their use has been limited, with only a handful of executions carried out this way since the 1970s.
