US Administration to Expedite Federal Executions Using Firing Squads and Nitrogen Gas

According to a report by Reuters, the U.S. Justice Department has recommended utilizing alternative methods such as firing squads, electrocution, and nitrogen hypoxia (nitrogen gas), alongside the traditional lethal injection. The decision to bring back these methods stems from ongoing difficulties and limitations in procuring the chemical drugs required for lethal injections.

A report published by the Justice Department has instructed the Bureau of Prisons to maintain the necessary infrastructure for firing squads, electric chairs, and gas applications in accordance with existing laws. Notably, the state of Alabama sparked global debate in 2024 when it became the first to carry out a death sentence using nitrogen gas. The administration maintains that these steps ensure judicial mandates are fulfilled even if specific lethal drugs are unavailable. However, due to legal complexities and the appeals process, it is estimated that it may take several years before these methods are widely implemented at the federal level.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the moratorium placed during the Biden administration weakened the federal death penalty system, causing prolonged suffering for the families of victims. Currently, the Justice Department is pursuing the death penalty against more than 40 defendants nationwide. It is worth noting that towards the end of his first term in 2021, the Trump administration executed a record 13 inmates—a sharp contrast to the only three federal executions carried out in the 50 years prior. While this move has raised significant concerns among human rights organizations, the government views it as a necessary step toward establishing justice.