The U.S. Department of Justice has announced plans to expand the methods used to carry out federal death sentences, including steps to reintroduce the firing squad.
In a statement released on Friday, the department said it is working to accelerate federal capital punishment cases while restoring policies first implemented during the administration of Donald Trump. Many of those measures had been scaled back under President Joe Biden.
As part of the policy shift, the department said it will readopt a previously used lethal injection protocol and broaden execution options to include alternative methods such as the firing squad. Officials added that internal procedures are also being reviewed and streamlined to reduce delays and shorten the time between conviction and execution.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the move, arguing that previous policies did not adequately enforce capital punishment for the most serious crimes. He cited cases involving terrorism, child murder, and the killing of law enforcement officers as examples where stricter enforcement is necessary.
According to the department, the new approach is intended to strengthen justice for victims while ensuring that federal laws on capital punishment are fully implemented. It also emphasized ongoing efforts to make the process of seeking death sentences more efficient.
The development signals a significant shift in U.S. federal death penalty policy, reopening debate over execution methods and the broader application of capital punishment.
