The U.S. Army has stated that it is not preparing to execute its four death row inmates, countering reports that suggested such actions were imminent. An ABC News report claimed that the Army had developed plans for executions pending President Donald Trump's approval. However, an Army spokesperson clarified to the Washington Examiner that any preparations for execution are part of routine drills that have been conducted for the past two decades.
The spokesperson noted, "There are currently four death sentence inmates at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks," and explained that the Secretary of the Army is responsible for military executions. The spokesperson emphasized that these exercises are standard and have been part of ongoing planning, but no presidential action has been taken.
Military courts can impose death sentences, but executions require presidential approval. The last military execution occurred in 1961. War Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed support for executing Nidal Hasan, who was convicted for a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009. The Army's death row also includes Ronald Gray, convicted of multiple murders and rapes, and Timothy Hennis, convicted of the rape and murder of a woman and her daughters. Gray's execution was previously approved by former President George W. Bush but was halted by a federal judge.
Hennis's conviction was secured after advances in DNA testing allowed for new evidence to be analyzed, leading to a military prosecution after his initial acquittal in state court.