A new rule published by the Justice Department on Friday will allow the use of different methods permitted by states, including firing squads and electrocution, for federal executions.

It’s unclear whether the rule will ever actually get used but it could potentially make it easier for the Trump administration to proceed with the wave of federal executions it plans to carry out before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

The proposed rule change was first reported by ProPublica as among many regulations the Trump administration is racing to change before the president leaves office.

Five more inmates are scheduled to be executed before Biden takes office. The Justice Department hasn’t indicated it is planning on using any methods other than lethal injection, according to The New York Times. Biden opposes the death penalty and could potentially overturn the rule change.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/us/politics/executions-firing-squads-electrocution.html