Just hours into the second Trump Presidency, one of Donald Trump's first executive orders (14164) listed steps toward resuming and increasing both federal and state executions.

Within hours of her swearing in as the new Attorney General, Pam Bondi declared her intention to act those orders, including an intention to reverse the commutations of 37 federal death sentences by President Biden.

We who oppose the death penalty pledge to stand against every execution and work towards a day when executions are prohibited in all cases in the United States.

Our nation is strong enough and smart enough that it can hold dangerous offenders accountable and be safe from them without executions. We do that every day in the vast majority of homicide cases. The death penalty is not an effective tool to stop crime. We know that:

• Government makes mistakes;
• The criminal legal system is fraught with disparity and unfairness;
• Prison workers should not be forced to take on the burden of killing defenseless prisoners once, let alone at the rapid pace of the recent federal execution schedule;
• It is a cruel hoax to suggest that executions provide healing to murder victim family members. We can and must do better for the families left behind in the wake of violence.

BACKGROUND

In his first presidency, Donald Trump resumed federal executions in July, 2020 after a 17 year hiatus, and carried out 13 executions between July 14, 2020 and January 16, 2021. This unprecedented pace of executions make President Trump the most-executing president since the 1940's. With the post-election executions following his defeat in 2020, Trump became the first lame duck president since 1889 (131 years) to execute a federal prisoner.

Many problems exist with federal, military and state death penalty laws. These issues are explored in great detail, here. Death Penalty Action believes the death penalty is not necessary to be safe from dangerous offenders or to hold them accountable.

President Trump has made his mark on this issue and secured his place in history. No further executions are necessary. Add your name to urge President Trump to order Attorney General Bondi to refrain from seeking new death sentences or setting any new federal execution dates. The petition also asks the President to commute (change) the death sentences of all remaining federal and military death row prisoners to life sentences.

NOTE: The information in this background and the asks within the deliverable petition language may be adjusted from time to time to keep them current as to scheduled federal executions. Petition signatures will be submitted to the President, the Attorney General and other US officials as necessary and appropriate..

THE NEXT EXECUTIONS:

Besides the use of the federal death penalty being an affront to human rights and criminal justice, there are specific factors surrounding each case. This space will be updated if/when federal executions are actually set. While no federal executions are expected in 2025, military executions are possible. As of December 23, 2024, there are three men on the federal death row and four men on the military death row.