Trump Signs Order Restoring Death Penalty in Washington D.C., AG Seeks Nationwide Expansion
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Rep. Nancy Mace introduced legislation Aug. 13 to restore the death penalty in Washington, D.C., but President Donald Trump did not sign a new death-penalty proclamation on Aug. 25, according to available government records. Mace’s Restoring the Death Penalty in DC Act, H.R. 10098, was referred to the House Oversight and Judiciary committees and remains in committee. The bill would authorize capital punishment for specified offenses, including first-degree murder, certain killings of law-enforcement or public-safety employees, terrorism, first-degree child sexual abuse, and some drug-distribution cases involving minors. It would establish aggravating and mitigating factors and a separate sentencing hearing, with electrocution as the default execution method and alternatives. Trump previously issued a September 2025 memorandum directing federal prosecutors to seek death sentences in appropriate D.C. cases under existing federal law. DOJ expanded federal execution procedures in April 2026. The supplied Aug. 25 account conflates these developments and is materially misleading.
More context
Timeline
- On 1957, Robert Carter became Washington’s last executed prisoner ever.
- On 1972, Supreme Court decisions disrupted existing capital punishment laws.
- On 1981, Washington’s death-penalty abolition became effective under district law.
- On 1992, D.C. voters rejected a referendum restoring capital punishment.
- On January 20, 2025, Trump ordered federal death-penalty restoration nationwide.
- On September 25, 2025, Trump directed prosecutors toward D.C. cases.
- On April 24, 2026, DOJ expanded execution methods and procedures.
- On August 13, 2026, Mace introduced H.R. 10098 targeting crimes.
- On August 25, 2026, no new Trump proclamation was verified.
- Over coming months, H.R. 10098 could face review and opposition.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Immediate US impact centers on congressional debate, not an enacted penalty. Possible long-term US impact: Long-term impact could reshape federal capital-punishment policy and D.C. governance. Reader priority: Readers should prioritize official records, bill status, court filings, dates. Most Affected: Most affected: D.C. residents, defendants, prosecutors, courts, Congress, federal agencies.
Coverage notes
Left: Coverage emphasizes civil-liberties concerns, abolition history, and constitutional challenges. Center: Coverage distinguishes Mace’s proposal from Trump’s existing federal policy. Right: Coverage emphasizes deterrence, violent crime, and punishment for offenders.
Primary report
On August 13, 2026, Mace’s official release announced H.R. 10098.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
