The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has updated federal execution protocols to include firing squads and nitrogen gas as methods of capital punishment, according to a regulation published on April 10, 2025, in the Federal Register. The change expands the available methods beyond lethal injection, which has faced challenges due to drug shortages.
The revised rule, which took effect on May 12, 2025, allows the federal government to use any method authorized by the state where the execution is carried out. This includes firing squads, nitrogen hypoxia, and electrocution, in addition to lethal injection. The DOJ stated that the update ensures the federal government can carry out executions despite ongoing difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have condemned the move as a step backward, arguing that these methods are cruel and unusual punishment. Supporters, however, contend that the change provides necessary flexibility to enforce federal death sentences. As of April 2025, there are 43 federal inmates on death row, though no executions have been scheduled under the new protocol.
