In a long-overdue act of justice, the U.S. Air Force has finally approved full military funeral honors for Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran tragically killed during the events of January 6, 2021. This reversal marks a major departure from the Biden administration’s earlier refusal to recognize Babbitt’s military service due to her presence at the Capitol that day.
Ashli Babbitt served honorably in the United States Air Force, dedicating over a decade of her life in defense of our nation. On January 6, 2021, Babbitt was fatally shot by law enforcement inside the U.S. Capitol as she attempted to pass through a barricaded doorway near the Speaker’s Lobby. Unarmed and among a crowd of protesters, her death sparked outrage across conservative circles and raised serious questions about the excessive use of force. To this day, many Americans view her as a patriotic veteran whose life was taken under murky and controversial circumstances.
Initially, the Air Force—under Biden administration leadership—denied her family’s request for military funeral honors. In a February 2021 letter, Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly stated that granting honors would “bring discredit upon the Air Force,” citing the events preceding her death. That decision, according to many on the right, was not only cold-hearted but deeply politicized. Despite Babbitt’s status as an honorably discharged veteran, her death was treated as a liability rather than a tragedy.
Now, thanks to the tireless advocacy of Judicial Watch and growing public pressure, the Air Force has reversed that decision. In an August 15 letter addressed to Babbitt’s family, Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier wrote, “I understand that the family’s initial request was denied… However, after reviewing the circumstances of Ashli’s death, and considering the information that has come forward since then, I am persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect.” He further invited Babbitt’s mother and husband to meet with him at the Pentagon to personally offer his condolences.
The move was applauded by Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, who released a statement thanking President Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Under Secretary Lohmeier for “reversing the Biden Defense Department’s cruel decision to deny Ashli funeral honors as a distinguished veteran of the Air Force.”
This long-overdue correction comes just months after Babbitt’s family reached a nearly $5 million settlement with the federal government—a tacit acknowledgment of the injustice they suffered. Though no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one, the settlement and funeral honor reversal are steps toward accountability and healing.
Under federal law, military funeral honors are owed to all eligible veterans. These honors typically include a two-person uniformed detail, the ceremonial folding and presentation of the U.S. flag to next of kin, and the playing of “Taps.” Babbitt, having served her country with dedication, more than qualifies. That she was denied these honors in the first place is a stain on the record of those who placed politics above patriotism.
The Air Force has yet to release a formal statement regarding the reversal, but the message is clear: Ashli Babbitt’s service and sacrifice will not be erased or ignored.
