FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has indicated that he will not intervene in decisions regarding the broadcast of the execution of Nidal Hasan, the convicted Fort Hood shooter. Carr stated that because the Pentagon intends to livestream the execution via online platforms, he believes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lacks a regulatory role in the matter.

Under current plans, the Department of Defense, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, intends to conduct the execution by firing squad and provide a livestream of the event. While the FCC maintains authority over public airwaves, Carr suggested that since the event is not currently slated for traditional broadcast television, the agency does not have a clear mandate to restrict or permit the coverage.

There is a distinction in the current reporting regarding the scope of the FCC's influence. While Carr suggests the FCC has no role, the agency historically holds jurisdiction over content aired on broadcast networks. If a network were to pick up the Pentagon’s livestream and air it on public airwaves, it remains unclear if the FCC would attempt to intervene under indecency or public interest standards, or if Carr’s deference to Hegseth signals a policy of non-interference regardless of the medium.