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Babbitt served in the US Air Force from 2004 to 2008 on active duty, followed by time in the Air Force Reserves until 2010.
The decision to now honour Babbitt with military rites has drawn criticism (File Photo/Reuters)
The US Air Force has announced that it will extend military funeral honours to Senior Airman Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Babbitt, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, was killed by Capitol Police while attempting to breach a restricted area near the Speaker’s Lobby inside the US Capitol.
The reversal comes more than three years after her death and follows significant legal and public controversy. The Air Force under the Biden administration had previously denied the request for military honours in February 2021, citing the circumstances surrounding the riot.
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Now, according to a letter dated August 15 and sent to Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, the Air Force has re-evaluated its position. “On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, I write to extend the offer for Military Funeral Honours for SrA Ashli Babbitt,” wrote the undersecretary of the Air Force, as shared by the family’s legal representatives.
The letter further stated that, following a review of the circumstances leading to Babbitt’s death, the Air Force believes the original decision was incorrect.
While the specific details of what will be provided have not been disclosed, full military funeral honours typically include the presence of a uniformed detail, the playing of Taps, and the ceremonial folding and presentation of the US flag to the next of kin.
Babbitt served in the US Air Force from 2004 to 2008 on active duty, followed by time in the Air Force Reserves until 2010, and later the Air National Guard until 2016. She held the rank of Senior Airman during her service.
In July 2025, the federal government reached a nearly $5 million settlement with Babbitt’s family in a wrongful death claim, though the officer who shot her was cleared of any wrongdoing by Biden administration. The Department of Justice declined to press charges, stating that the officer acted in defence of members of Congress and others being evacuated during the riot.
However, the decision to now honour Babbitt with military rites has drawn criticism. Former Capitol Police officer Aquilino Gonell, who was injured defending the Capitol on January 6, described the move as “a slap in the face” to those who were harmed during the attack.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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