Sen. Dick Durbin condemned a recent Justice Department policy shift expanding federal execution methods, including the reinstatement of firing squads and renewed use of lethal injection, describing the move as “barbaric” and “shameful” in a post on X on April 24, 2026. The comments came after the Justice Department announced updated federal death penalty protocols as part of a broader effort to restore and expand capital punishment practices within the federal system.
In his full post, Durbin wrote: “The Trump Justice Department just expanded the barbaric federal death penalty protocols, including reinstating firing squads and lethal injections. Shameful.” The statement followed the department’s release of new guidance outlining multiple execution methods intended to ensure federal death sentences can be carried out even amid legal and logistical challenges.
The Justice Department announcement detailed a return to lethal injection using pentobarbital as a primary method, reversing earlier restrictions and positioning the drug as compliant with constitutional standards under the Eighth Amendment. Officials also confirmed the reauthorization of firing squads, citing Supreme Court precedent and noting that the method has historically been upheld as constitutional. The policy shift is part of a broader effort under the Trump administration to reestablish capital punishment at the federal level after previous moratoriums and commutations significantly reduced its use.
Durbin’s criticism aligns with his long-standing opposition to the death penalty. He has described capital punishment as “cruel, immoral, and often discriminatory,” arguing that it is applied unevenly and disproportionately impacts people of color and individuals from low-income backgrounds. He is the lead sponsor of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act, which seeks to abolish capital punishment at the federal level and resentence those currently on death row to life imprisonment without parole.
Over the years, Durbin has also characterized federal executions as “state-sanctioned killing” and a “stain on our nation’s history,” and has repeatedly called for the complete elimination of the practice. He shifted from a previous position supporting the death penalty around 2011, citing concerns about wrongful convictions, systemic inequities, and the inability to ensure fair and non-discriminatory application.
The current Justice Department policy marks a broader expansion of execution methods, including reliance on lethal injection protocols and the reintroduction of firing squads, alongside consideration of other historically used methods such as electrocution and lethal gas. Officials have argued these measures are intended to address delays in capital punishment cases and ensure that lawful sentences can be enforced under established constitutional interpretations upheld by the Supreme Court.