Idaho will become the first US state to make the firing squad its default execution method, a notable shift in how the death penalty is carried out.

• Starting July 1, 2026, the firing squad replaces lethal injection as Idaho's main way of executing prisoners.
• This makes Idaho the first state to set the firing squad as its default, not just a backup option.
• The change reflects growing trouble with lethal injection, as drugs for it have become hard to get.

Outlook: Other states facing the same drug shortages may watch Idaho closely and consider similar moves.