Three years after a polarizing decision denied her military funeral honors, Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran killed during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, will receive the recognition her family fought for. The U.S. Air Force’s announcement on August 15, 2025, to grant full military funeral honors reverses a Biden-era ruling, reigniting debates about justice, accountability, and the legacy of that fateful day. Babbitt’s death, the only homicide officially recorded during the Capitol attack, has been a lightning rod for controversy, with her family and supporters claiming she was wrongfully denied honors due to political motives. This decision, coupled with a recent $5 million settlement, marks a significant chapter in their quest for vindication. Here’s a closer look at the story behind this emotional and divisive milestone.
A Tragic Day at the Capitol
On January 6, 2021, Ashli Babbitt, a San Diego native and Air Force veteran, joined thousands at the U.S. Capitol to protest the 2020 election results. A successful pool business owner, Babbitt had traveled alone to Washington, D.C., to attend the Women for America First rally near the White House. As the day escalated into chaos, she found herself inside the Capitol, attempting to climb through a broken window into the Speaker’s Lobby, a sensitive area where members of Congress were being evacuated. There, Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd fatally shot her. Babbitt, unarmed and 5 feet 3 inches tall, was 35 at the time of her death.
The Justice Department, under the Biden administration, declined to pursue charges against Byrd in April 2021, citing insufficient evidence for prosecution. The decision sparked outrage among Babbitt’s supporters, who argued she posed no threat, with her hands raised and empty in plain view. “Ashli was begging officers to call for backup before she was shot,” a letter from her family’s legal team stated, claiming Byrd, who was not in uniform, failed to identify himself or issue warnings. The incident, captured on video, fueled competing narratives: some saw Babbitt as a rioter endangering democracy, while others viewed her as a victim of excessive force.
A Denied Request and a Family’s Fight
In the aftermath, Babbitt’s family sought military funeral honors to recognize her 14 years of service in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including deployments in the War on Terror. On February 9, 2021, Air Force Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly denied the request, citing Babbitt’s illegal entry into the Capitol. “As a result, I have determined that military funeral honors would bring discredit upon the Air Force,” he wrote to her husband, Aaron Babbitt. The decision, seen by the family as a politicized slight, deepened their resolve.
Represented by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group, the family pursued justice through litigation and advocacy. Their efforts culminated in a $5 million settlement in May 2025 for wrongful death and other claims, a landmark acknowledgment by the Trump administration. “Judicial Watch’s team spent years investigating, litigating, and exposing the truth about Ashli’s homicide,” said president Tom Fitton, praising the settlement as a step toward accountability.
A Reversal Rooted in New Perspective
The Air Force’s decision to grant funeral honors came in an August 15, 2025, letter from Under Secretary Matthew Lohmeier to Babbitt’s mother, Micki Witthoeft, and husband, Aaron. “I understand that the family’s initial request was denied by Air Force leadership in a letter dated February 9, 2021,” Lohmeier wrote. “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 extended an invitation for the family to meet at the Pentagon, offering personal condolences.
The reversal aligns with broader actions by the Trump administration, which has sought to reframe the narrative around January 6. On his first day back in office in 2025, President Trump pardoned nearly all rioters and fired prosecutors involved in related cases, calling the prosecutions a “grave national injustice.” The decision to honor Babbitt reflects this shift, with Fitton expressing gratitude to Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Lohmeier for reversing what he called the Biden Defense Department’s “cruel decision.”
A Military Funeral’s Significance
A military funeral, as outlined by Veterans Affairs, includes an honor guard of at least two members, one from the deceased’s branch, performing a ceremony with the folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin, accompanied by “Taps” played by a bugler or ceremonial recording. For Babbitt’s family, this ceremony represents more than tradition—it’s a recognition of her service and a step toward restoring her legacy. “Ashli Babbitt’s family is grateful to President Trump, Secretary 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,” Fitton said.
The decision has stirred mixed reactions. Supporters see it as justice for a veteran unfairly vilified, while critics, including some on social media, argue it glorifies a participant in an attack on the Capitol. A Reddit thread on the military subreddit called it “an absolute disgrace,” with users decrying the precedent it sets. Yet for the family, the honors are a personal victory, affirming Babbitt’s contributions as a veteran over the controversy of her final moments.
A Polarizing Legacy and Ongoing Questions
The decision to grant Babbitt funeral honors comes amid broader questions about January 6 and its aftermath. The Trump administration’s actions, including the settlement and pardons, signal a reinterpretation of the riot’s events, with supporters arguing Babbitt’s death was a miscarriage of justice. “Ashli posed no threat to the safety of any officer nor any Member of Congress,” Judicial Watch’s letter to Hegseth claimed, citing witness accounts and Byrd’s own admission on NBC Nightly News that he didn’t know Babbitt was a woman until hours later. Critics, however, point to the chaos of the riot, where officers faced unprecedented threats.
The Air Force’s move, coupled with the settlement, ensures Babbitt’s story remains a focal point in the national conversation. For her mother and husband, it’s a chance to honor her memory with the dignity they believe she deserves. As the Pentagon prepares to facilitate the ceremony, the decision underscores the enduring divisions over January 6, a day that continues to shape America’s political and cultural landscape.
