US Resumes Executions as Trump Reintroduces Firing Squad Option

Trump Orders Aggressive Return of Death Penalty as US Restores Firing Squad, Lethal Injection

The United States Department of Justice has announced a sweeping return to aggressive enforcement of capital punishment, including the reintroduction of firing squads and lethal injection, in a major policy shift under Donald Trump.

In a statement released Friday, the department said it is restoring its mandate to carry out lawful executions of federal death row inmates who have exhausted their appeals. The directive follows an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, instructing the Justice Department to prioritise the pursuit and enforcement of death sentences in appropriate cases.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticised the previous administration under Joe Biden, accusing it of failing to fully enforce capital punishment. He said the renewed approach is aimed at ensuring justice for victims of violent crimes, including terrorism, child killings, and attacks on law enforcement officers.

The policy marks a direct reversal of the federal execution moratorium introduced by former Attorney General Merrick Garland, which had paused executions pending a review of lethal injection protocols, particularly the use of pentobarbital.

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According to the Justice Department, that review has now concluded that the drug complies with the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The department’s newly released report, “Restoring and Strengthening the Federal Death Penalty,” supports the resumption of executions under updated guidelines.

As part of the overhaul, federal prosecutors have been authorised to seek the death penalty in at least 44 cases, with Blanche personally approving capital punishment in nine, including cases involving alleged members of the MS-13 gang accused of killing a federal witness.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has also been directed to reinstate lethal injection protocols, expand execution methods to include firing squads, and explore the construction of new execution facilities capable of handling multiple methods.

Officials further revealed plans to streamline internal legal processes, including reforms to federal habeas corpus procedures, in a bid to reduce delays between conviction and execution—an issue that has long characterised the US capital punishment system.

The announcement also revisits controversial decisions made during the Biden era, including the commutation of sentences for 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. The current Justice Department criticised that move, arguing it was carried out without sufficient consultation with victims’ families.

The policy shift is expected to reignite intense national debate over death penalty laws in the United States, with critics raising concerns about wrongful convictions, racial disparities, and the ethical implications of state-sanctioned executions. Human rights organisations have also questioned the reintroduction of firing squads, describing it as a regressive step.

Supporters, however, argue that the move reinforces accountability and ensures that the most serious crimes are met with the strongest legal consequences.

With executions now set to resume under expanded methods, the United States once again finds itself at the center of a deeply divisive debate over justice, punishment, and constitutional rights.

US Resumes Executions as Trump Reintroduces Firing Squad Option