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Justice Dept Adds Firing Squads, Gas, Electrocution to Federal Executions

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Justice Department will add firing squads, electrocution and gas asphyxiation to federal execution methods to address lethal-injection drug shortages.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reauthorized lethal injection, authorized firing squads for federal executions, and announced death-penalty pursuit against nine defendants.
Department’s report criticized the administration’s moratorium for weakening the death-penalty system and said methods aim to deter severe crimes and give victims’ families closure.

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Story summary

Justice Department will add firing squads, electrocution and gas asphyxiation to federal execution methods to address lethal-injection drug shortages.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reauthorized lethal injection, authorized firing squads for federal executions, and announced death-penalty pursuit against nine defendants.
Department’s report criticized the administration’s moratorium for weakening the death-penalty system and said methods aim to deter severe crimes and give victims’ families closure.