On August 15, 2025, the U.S. Air Force extended an offer for full military funeral honors to the family of Senior Airman Ashli Babbitt, marking a dramatic reversal of a decision made more than four years earlier in the immediate aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The move, confirmed in a letter from the Air Force undersecretary to Babbitt’s husband Aaron, follows a recent wrongful death settlement with Babbitt’s family and has ignited passionate responses across the political spectrum.
The original denial of military honors came in February 2021, shortly after Babbitt was shot and killed by a U.S. Capitol police officer as she and others attempted to breach the doors to the House chamber during the violent events at the Capitol. At the time, the Air Force—then under the direction of the Biden administration—declined the family’s request, a decision that was met with both support and criticism as the nation grappled with the fallout of that tumultuous day.
Fast forward to the summer of 2025: a nearly $5 million wrongful death settlement was reached between the federal government and Babbitt’s family, a development that, according to Fox News Digital, set the stage for renewed calls to revisit the question of military honors. The undersecretary’s letter, dated August 15, acknowledged the evolving context and information that had emerged since the initial decision. “On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, I write to extend the offer for Military Funeral Honors for SrA Ashli Babbitt,” the letter stated. “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.”
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the offer in a statement, saying, “After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to SrA Babbitt’s family.” This official acknowledgment signified not only a change in policy but also a recognition that the earlier denial may not have fully accounted for the complexities surrounding Babbitt’s actions and her service record.
Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, was among the most high-profile casualties of the January 6 riot. She was shot as she attempted to climb through a shattered window leading to the Speaker’s Lobby, just steps away from where lawmakers were being evacuated. The Department of Justice, after an investigation, announced roughly three months later that it would not pursue criminal charges against the officer who fired the fatal shot, citing insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.
The Air Force’s reversal and the subsequent offer of military honors have drawn both praise and pointed criticism, reflecting the deep divisions that still linger over January 6 and its aftermath. Among those applauding the decision was retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a prominent Trump ally and former national security advisor. Responding to the undersecretary’s letter, Flynn declared, “There is no better example of how a leader is supposed to act, than right here in this letter.” He continued, “May Ashli Babbitt now Rest In Peace and her family gain some measure of solace for the wonderful person she was and the light of truth she brought to each of us.”
On the other side of the debate, former Representative Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois who served on the January 6 Congressional Committee, issued a scathing rebuke. “Ashli Babbit dishonored her service by committing insurrection against her country. While her death is absolutely tragic and I wish it hadn’t happened, the Air Force giving her honors is in itself a dishonor,” Kinzinger stated. His comments echo the sentiments of many who believe that participating in the storming of the Capitol should preclude any posthumous recognition of military service.
For some law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol that day, the decision to restore Babbitt’s honors feels like an affront. Former Capitol Police officer Aquilino Gonell, who was injured during the riot and has spoken publicly about the trauma of January 6, expressed his frustration bluntly. “Not to officers, like Brian Sicknick, who served in the Air National Guard, but the member of the mob who stormed the Capitol and put herself and other’s lives in danger,” Gonell said, referring to the restoration of honors. He concluded, “Wtf.”
The controversy surrounding Babbitt’s death and legacy has never been far from the headlines. Her supporters have portrayed her as a patriot and a martyr, while critics argue that her actions on January 6 were fundamentally at odds with her oath as a service member. The nearly $5 million wrongful death settlement reached in July 2025 added another complex layer to the story, with some seeing it as an implicit acknowledgment of government responsibility, while others viewed it as a pragmatic move to avoid protracted litigation.
The Air Force’s decision to revisit and ultimately reverse its initial denial of military honors is unusual but not without precedent. Military funeral honors are typically reserved for those who served honorably, but the criteria can be subject to interpretation, especially in cases where a service member’s actions after discharge come under public scrutiny. The undersecretary’s letter suggests that new information and a broader reassessment of the facts played a role in the change of heart.
The broader public debate over Babbitt’s legacy continues to reflect the nation’s divided response to the events of January 6. Some Americans, including many veterans and members of military families, see the restoration of honors as a necessary gesture of respect for Babbitt’s service, regardless of the circumstances of her death. Others see it as a dangerous precedent that risks glorifying or excusing participation in an attack on the democratic process.
As the Babbitt family prepares for a ceremony that will include the formal rendering of military honors, the episode serves as a stark reminder of how the wounds of January 6 remain fresh for many. The Air Force’s decision, coming so soon after the wrongful death settlement, ensures that Ashli Babbitt’s name will remain at the center of the nation’s ongoing conversation about service, sacrifice, and accountability.
For now, one thing is clear: the debate over how to remember Ashli Babbitt—and what her story means for the country—shows no sign of fading. The Air Force’s reversal has reopened old wounds and sparked new questions about how America chooses to honor its veterans, especially when their final acts are as controversial as the day that changed the course of recent history.
