President Donald Trump signed a far-reaching executive order Monday, directing the Department of Justice to strengthen state and federal efforts to carry out the death penalty. The order mandates the attorney general to take “all necessary and lawful action” to ensure states can access lethal injection drugs while also reviving federal executions that had been paused since 2021.
The decision signals a significant reversal of Biden-era policies, which halted federal executions and commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment.
Federal Executions to Resume After Moratorium
Trump’s administration previously carried out 13 federal executions, the highest number in modern U.S. history, before they were paused under the Biden administration. His order now clears the way for federal executions to resume, targeting high-profile cases like Dylann Roof, the Charleston church shooter; Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, responsible for the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue massacre.
Trump’s directive comes just days after former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to withdraw protocols allowing single-drug lethal injections with pentobarbital, citing concerns over the potential for unnecessary suffering. Trump’s acting Attorney General, James McHenry III, or his nominee, Pam Bondi, is expected to reinstate the protocol once confirmed.
Expanding Federal Death Penalty Jurisdiction
In addition to resuming federal executions, the order expands the scope of the death penalty to include specific categories of crime. Trump instructed the Justice Department to seek the death penalty in all federal cases involving the killing of law enforcement officers or capital crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The order also directs the attorney general to challenge Supreme Court decisions that have placed limits on the authority of state and federal governments to impose capital punishment.
“The government’s most solemn responsibility is to protect its citizens from abhorrent acts,” Trump stated in the order. “My administration will not tolerate efforts to undermine laws that authorize capital punishment for heinous crimes.”
Addressing the Shortage of Execution Drugs
A critical element of the order involves addressing the ongoing shortage of lethal injection drugs, which has hindered executions in several states. Trump’s directive tasks the Justice Department with assisting state governments in acquiring drugs like pentobarbital, the substance used during his first term to replace the controversial three-drug protocol.
States have faced challenges sourcing these drugs due to pharmaceutical companies’ resistance to their use in executions. Trump’s administration is expected to actively engage in procurement efforts to ensure executions proceed without delay.
Reactions and the Path Forward
The executive order has drawn polarized reactions. Supporters hail it as a return to law and order, emphasizing justice for victims of violent crimes. Opponents, including human rights organizations, have condemned the move, warning it undermines international standards and risks exacerbating inequities in the justice system.
As the Justice Department works to implement Trump’s directives, the future of capital punishment in the United States is set to undergo significant changes, with potential implications for both federal and state-level executions.