The U.S. Department of Justice announced on April 24, 2026, that it is strengthening federal death penalty protocols by readopting lethal injection using pentobarbital and expanding options to include firing squads.
The move directs the Federal Bureau of Prisons to update execution procedures amid ongoing challenges with obtaining lethal injection drugs. It also includes streamlining processes to carry out sentences once appeals are exhausted, according to an April 24 press release by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to a DOJ statement, “Today, the Department of Justice acted to restore its solemn duty to seek, obtain, and implement lawful capital sentences — clearing the way for the Department to carry out executions once death-sentenced inmates have exhausted their appeals.”
“Among the actions taken are readopting the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration, expanding the protocol to include additional manners of execution such as the firing squad, and streamlining internal processes to expedite death penalty cases,” the press release continued.
History of the Method
Firing squads have a long history in the United States, dating back to the earliest colonial executions. The first recorded execution by shooting occurred in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608, when Capt. George Kendall was put to death for suspected mutiny, per History.com.
The method was used during the Civil War for military offenses such as desertion and was also applied in the Old West. In the modern era, it has been rare. Since 1977, only a handful of executions by firing squad have taken place, primarily in Utah, with the most recent prior instances in that state in 2010.
Utah has historically allowed the option, often tied to inmate choice. As of recent years, a small number of states—including Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah—authorize firing squads as a backup or primary method in certain circumstances, per the Death Penalty Information Center. Idaho, for example, moved to make it the primary method starting in 2026 due to drug shortages.
Federal executions follow the method prescribed by the law of the state where the sentence was imposed under the Federal Death Penalty Act. The 2020 regulations under the first Trump Administration had already broadened options, but subsequent pauses occurred.
Rationale and Impact
The DOJ cited difficulties in obtaining drugs for lethal injections as a factor in expanding protocols. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the changes, noting the need for additional constitutional methods used by states, including electrocution and gas asphyxiation in some contexts.
Proponents of firing squads have pointed to data suggesting a low rate of botched executions compared to lethal injection, which has documented complications in multiple cases. A 2016 law review article and statements from some legal observers have described it as relatively swift when properly conducted, according to the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform.
This development aligns with actions in several states addressing execution drug shortages. Lethal injection remains the predominant method nationwide, but backups have gained attention as pharmaceutical companies have restricted supplies for use in executions.
The DOJ emphasized that the updates apply only to federal cases involving the most serious crimes, such as certain murders under federal jurisdiction.
