For more than six decades, the U.S military has not carried out an execution. Now, that could change. According to documents, the U.S. Army is preparing for the possible executions of no less than four prisoners on military death row.
The death penalty in the U.S. has been heavily debated for years and years. Some argue it’s reasonable – a life for a life, etc. – and more economical, while others focus on the moral side of it, arguing it’s inhuman.
However, the death penalty is still very much active in many states. And soon, more executions could be on the agenda, this time by orders from the top.
On his very first day back in the White House, Trump made his position on the death penalty clear. He signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to pursue capital punishment more aggressively, after the Biden administration had paused federal executions.
Federal executions had also stopped during Barack Obama’s presidency. During his time in office, Obama commuted the death sentence of military death-row prisoner Dwight Loving to life in prison without parole. Loving had been convicted of murdering two soldiers in 1988.
An internal planning document reportedly instructs Army officials to prepare for the executions if President Donald Trump approves the death sentences of the four prisoners.
The plans would only move forward if Trump signs off on the death sentences, according to reports. The internal document, called Operation Resolute Justice, was issued in February.
U.S military ‘prepares’ for first execution in over 60 years
It outlines plans to transfer prisoners from the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to the federal execution facility in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Terre Haute facility was used for a series of federal executions during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
