April 24, 2026

Justice Department Expands Execution Methods for Federal Death Penalty

The DOJ is expanding execution methods to include firing squads, gas asphyxiation, and electrocution to ensure the ability to carry out executions even if specific drugs are unavailable.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has authorized seeking death sentences for 44 defendants, including notable cases like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Robert Bowers.
The Biden administration's moratorium on federal executions has been lifted, allowing for a significant increase in capital punishment cases.

15 Sources

Justice Department readopts firing squads in US federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 3:22 PM · Reuters
Justice Department is bringing back firing squads in federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 3:48 PM · NBC
Justice Department announces it's readopting the firing squad as a means of execution
Apr 24, 2026 at 4:02 PM · Fox News
Trump’s Justice Department is bringing back firing squads for federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 4:35 PM · CNN
Trump Administration Approves Firing Squad Executions for Death Penalty
Apr 24, 2026 at 4:49 PM · NYT
DOJ reinstates firing squads, pentobarbital for federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 5:01 PM · CBS News
Trump DOJ brings back 17th-century execution method to ‘strengthen the death penalty’
Apr 24, 2026 at 5:53 PM · Independent
DOJ says it will use firing squads, electrocution again for federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 6:31 PM · CNBC
US justice department to allow firing squads as federal death penalty method
Apr 24, 2026 at 6:33 PM · The Guardian
DOJ to allow firing squads for executions in move to ramp up capital punishment
Apr 24, 2026 at 7:02 PM · ABC News
Trump Administration Adds Firing Squad Executions to Death Penalty
Apr 24, 2026 at 7:50 PM · WSJ
Trump administration moves to add firing squad to federal execution methods
Apr 24, 2026 at 8:18 PM · Washington Post
DOJ seeks to bring back firing squads, electric chairs for some death penalty cases
Apr 24, 2026 at 9:11 PM · The Hill
US to allow firing squads, gas, and electrocution for federal executions
Apr 24, 2026 at 10:15 PM · BBC
Trump administration now permits death by firing squad for federal cases
Apr 24, 2026 at 11:27 PM · CBS News