The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is expanding the range of methods available for federal executions, including the reauthorization of lethal injection protocols and the addition of firing squads as a potential option.

In a statement, the department said it is reinstating the lethal injection procedures used during the first Trump administration while also updating guidelines to allow for alternative methods in certain circumstances. The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement of the federal death penalty.

Officials said the policy changes also include streamlining internal processes to expedite capital punishment cases, which they argue will improve efficiency in carrying out sentences.

The department described the measures as necessary to deter severe criminal acts, ensure justice for victims, and provide closure for affected families.

Federal executions are governed by a combination of statutory law and administrative procedures, and changes to execution methods can involve both legal and logistical considerations. The addition of firing squads reflects ongoing debates over the most reliable and legally viable methods of carrying out death sentences, particularly as some states have faced challenges obtaining drugs used for lethal injections.

The Justice Department did not provide a timeline for implementation or specify how frequently alternative methods, such as firing squads, would be used.