The U.S. Department of Justice has officially reinstated the federal death penalty and expanded execution protocols to include firing squads, reversing a years-long moratorium in a major policy shift under the Trump administration.
The United States Department of Justice announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, a sweeping return to federal executions, including the reintroduction of firing squads and the readoption of a lethal injection protocol utilizing pentobarbital. This decisive shift aims to reverse the policies of the previous administration and restore what officials termed a “solemn duty” to carry out lawful capital sentences. In a statement, the department confirmed it has already authorized seeking the death penalty against 44 defendants and is streamlining internal processes to expedite cases once death-row inmates have exhausted their appeals. The announcement officially rescinds the moratorium on federal executions imposed in 2021 by former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, which directed the Justice Department to prioritize the pursuit and enforcement of death sentences. Under this new directive, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has been instructed to expand available execution methods beyond lethal injection to include firing squads, electrocution, and gas. The department’s statement noted, “Today, the Department of Justice acted to restore its solemn duty to seek, obtain, and implement lawful capital sentences – clearing the way for the Department to carry out executions once death-sentenced inmates have exhausted their appeals.” Officials cited the change as a necessary measure to deliver justice for victims and provide closure to families affected by the nation’s most heinous crimes.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that the new policy represents a commitment to public safety and a rejection of the previous administration’s “indefinite moratorium.” Blanche has already personally authorized seeking death sentences against nine defendants, including members of the MS-13 gang. Defending the reversal, Blanche stated, “The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims.” The department also indicated plans to propose new rules in the coming weeks to limit clemency petitions and empower states to accelerate the federal review of capital cases.
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