DOJ Firing Squad Federal Executions 2026: 44 Death Sentences, Three on Death Row, and What Happens Next

# DOJ Firing Squad Federal Executions 2026: 44 Death Sentences, Three on Death Row, and What Happens Next

> **Quick answer:** On April 24, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the DOJ would add firing squad, electrocution, and gas chamber to the federal government's execution protocols — a first in modern American history. The department has authorized seeking the death penalty against 44 defendants and rescinded Biden's moratorium that had paused all federal executions. Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers remain the only three individuals currently on federal death row.

The DOJ firing squad announcement arrived Friday with the force of a policy earthquake. For the first time in modern American history, the federal government officially authorized death by firing squad — a method states like Utah have used, but one the federal government has never executed by in documented history. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed it plainly: the Biden administration "failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment." What follows is a breakdown of everything the announcement contains, who it affects, and what the legal road ahead looks like.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for legal matters.*

## What the DOJ Announced on April 24, 2026

The Justice Department's April 24 announcement, titled "Restoring and Strengthening the Federal Death Penalty," covers four concrete actions: