Justice Department readopts firing squads in federal executions

Justice DepartmentJustice Department readopts firing squads in federal executionsThe department said it is also resuming the use of lethal injection in executions.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The Department of Justice is readopting the use of firing squads and lethal injection in federal executions.Stefani Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 24, 2026, 11:48 AM EDTBy ReutersThe Department of Justice said ‌on Friday it is ‌taking actions to strengthen the ​federal death penalty, including firing squads and readopting the lethal injection protocol.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Acting Attorney General ​Todd Blanche has authorized seeking death ⁠sentences against nine people after the ​Justice Department rescinded a Biden-era moratorium ​on federal executions, the department said.“Among the actions ‌taken are ⁠readopting the lethal injection protocol utilized during ⁠the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 Justice Department said in ‌a statement.“These steps ​are critical to ​deterring ​the most barbaric crimes, ‌delivering justice for ​victims, and ​providing long-overdue closure to surviving loved ones,” it ​said.“Under President Trump’s leadership, ‌the Department of ​Justice is once again ​enforcing the ​law and standing with victims,” ‌Blanche said.President Donald ​Trump restarted ​federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 ​after ‌a nearly 20-year pause.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleReutersReuters