The United States military is preparing to carry out an execution unlike anything the country has witnessed in modern history.
Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major convicted of murdering 13 people during the 2009 Fort Hood massacre in Texas, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3, 2026. In an extraordinary announcement Thursday, Pentagon officials confirmed that the execution will be livestreamed for the public.
When and where can the public watch?
The execution is scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. Central) at Fort Hood, Texas.
Although the Pentagon has confirmed plans to broadcast the execution, officials have not yet identified the website, streaming service, or television network that will carry it.
A Defense Department official confirmed the livestream and indicated that additional details would be released later.
That means there is currently no confirmed public viewing link.
The massacre that led to his death sentence
Service members honor the victims of the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood massacre during a memorial ceremony in Texas.
On November 5, 2009, Hasan, then an Army psychiatrist holding the rank of major, opened fire on fellow military personnel at Fort Hood, killing 13 people and injuring 32 others.
The attack became the deadliest mass shooting at an American military installation.
Hasan was convicted by a military court in August 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to death and has remained in military custody at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Why this execution is historic
If carried out as scheduled, Hasan’s execution would mark the first execution conducted by the United States military since 1961 and its first firing squad execution since 1945.
The decision to allow the public to watch also represents an unprecedented departure from the traditional restrictions surrounding military executions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has supported making the execution publicly accessible, arguing that Americans should be able to witness the consequences of such serious crimes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recommended Hasan’s execution, has supported making the proceedings available for public viewing.
President Donald Trump authorized the execution following a recommendation from Hegseth.
Could the execution still be delayed?
Yes. Although Hasan’s direct appeals have been exhausted, additional legal challenges could potentially postpone the execution.
Military law experts have also raised questions about the legality and ethics of publicly broadcasting an execution.
For now, the December 3 execution remains scheduled, with broadcast arrangements still pending.
The Bluegrass Report will update this story when the Pentagon announces an official viewing platform or streaming link.
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