Stateline - Even as President Donald Trump and other national Republican leaders push to expand the use of capital punishment, some GOP-led states are moving in the opposite direction.
In an executive order he signed his first day in office, Trump directed the U.S. attorney general to seek the death penalty “for all crimes of a severity demanding its use.” In two specific circumstances — when a law enforcement officer is murdered or when the defendant accused of a capital crime is an immigrant in the country without legal status — the government will pursue the death penalty “regardless of other factors.”
The Biden administration in 2021 had imposed a moratorium on federal executions.
Additionally, Trump’s order directs the U.S. Department of Justice to help states obtain lethal injection drugs, though it remains unclear how it will do so. The order also instructs the attorney general to encourage state attorneys general and district attorneys to pursue capital charges for all eligible crimes.
But growing anti-death penalty sentiment in the states may limit the impact of Trump’s directive. From proposed moratoriums to repeal efforts, state lawmakers are debating the future of capital punishment amid concerns over wrongful convictions, racial disparities and high costs. Crime experts question the death penalty’s effectiveness as a deterrent, while some religious lawmakers say it is inconsistent with their opposition to abortion.
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