Air Force Reverses Course: Jan. 6 Call Was 'Incorrect'
Crowd marching on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Photo by TapTheForwardAssist under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The US Air Force has stunned many by reportedly reversing its earlier decision to deny military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force and Air National Guard veteran fatally shot during the January 6 Capitol attack. This dramatic about-face comes after Babbitt's family received a nearly $5 million wrongful-death settlement, and it raises profound questions about how the government is redefining the line between honoring military service and legitimizing political violence.
A Reversal That Shakes Traditions
In a letter sent to Babbitt's family, Matthew Lohmeier, undersecretary of the Air Force, stated that the original denial of military honors was "incorrect" after reviewing new information about the circumstances of her death, as reported by The Guardian. Lohmeier wrote, "I understand that the family's initial request was denied by Air Force leadership in a letter dated Feb. 9, 2021. 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," as reported by Stars and Stripes. The Air Force had initially refused the honors in early 2021, citing concerns that granting them would "bring discredit upon the Air Force" given the controversial nature of Babbitt's death during the Capitol riot. The reversal now means Babbitt will receive full military funeral honors, including a ceremony with taps and the presentation of an American flag to her next of kin, a solemn tribute traditionally reserved for those who served honorably.
This decision marks a significant shift in how the military and the government at large are handling the legacy of January 6. Babbitt, who served in the Air Force and Air National Guard with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, was the only person shot and killed by gunfire during the riot. She was fatally wounded by a Capitol Police officer as she reportedly attempted to climb through a barricaded door near the House chamber, where lawmakers were evacuating amid the chaos.
The Emotional Toll on Families
For families of veterans, military funeral honors carry deep emotional weight. They symbolize recognition of sacrifice and service to the nation. The initial denial of honors to Babbitt's family was a painful rebuke, suggesting that her death under such contentious circumstances did not merit the respect typically accorded to service members. Now, with the reversal, the family receives a form of closure and acknowledgment, but it also opens a Pandora's box of questions about the criteria for such honors.
The nearly $5 million wrongful-death settlement awarded to Babbitt's family earlier this year added fuel to the debate. The settlement, reached after a lawsuit challenged the circumstances of her death, was reportedly criticized by then-outgoing Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger, who lambasted the decision in May 2025, calling it a controversial move that sparked debate over accountability and justice, as reported by POLITICO. The settlement and the military honors together send a powerful message that the government is willing to rehabilitate Babbitt's image, despite the violent context of January 6.
The Rebranding of January 6
This reversal is part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration, which has aggressively worked to reframe the January 6 attack. On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump reportedly pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals charged or convicted in connection with the riot, calling their prosecutions a "grave national injustice," according to The Guardian. The pardons covered nearly all those jailed or awaiting trial, including leaders of extremist groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The administration has also reportedly fired dozens of federal prosecutors who worked on January 6 cases and hired lawyers who previously defended rioters. According to The Guardian, one such lawyer controversially compared the prosecutions to the Holocaust. The Justice Department even brought on a former FBI agent who participated in the attack and was charged with encouraging violence before receiving a Trump pardon. These moves collectively signal a wholesale reimagining of January 6 as political persecution rather than criminal conduct.
The Thin Line Between Service and Political Violence
The decision to grant military honors to Babbitt forces a reckoning with the delicate balance between honoring military service and glorifying political violence. Military funeral honors are a sacred tradition, meant to recognize those who served their country with honor and distinction. Yet, Babbitt's death occurred in the context of a protest-turned-riot aimed at overturning a democratic election.
Critics argue that this reversal blurs the lines, potentially elevating a participant in a violent attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to the status of a martyr. Supporters contend that Babbitt's military service and sacrifice deserve recognition regardless of the political context. This debate underscores the challenges faced by institutions in navigating the complex legacy of January 6.
What This Means Going Forward
The Air Force's reversal and the accompanying honors ceremony, which will include taps and the presentation of the American flag, are more than symbolic gestures. They reflect a shift in how the government chooses to remember and interpret the events of January 6. Lohmeier's invitation to Babbitt's family to meet at the Pentagon further personalizes this new chapter in her story.
For the public, this development may deepen divisions over the legacy of January 6. It challenges Americans to consider how to honor military service while confronting the realities of political violence. The emotional impact on families like Babbitt's is undeniable, but so too is the broader implication for national memory and justice.
References: US air force to grant military honors to Capitol rioter fatally shot on January 6 | US Capitol attack | Ashli Babbitt, Jan. 6 rioter killed in Capitol, offered military funeral honors | Air Force approves military funeral honors for Ashli Babbitt, veteran killed during Jan. 6 riot
