Air Force Grants Full Military Funeral to Insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt, Sparking Outrage Amid Transgender Service Member Discrimination

The United States Air Force announced on August 29, 2025, that it will retroactively provide full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran shot and killed while participating in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision overturns a previous ruling from 2021, which denied Babbitt these honors on the grounds that her actions would "bring discredit upon the Air Force" .

In a letter dated August 15, 2025, Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier stated, "On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, I write to extend the offer for Military Funeral Honors for SrA Ashli Babbitt. I understand that the family's initial request was denied by Air Force leadership in a letter dated February 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" .

Ashli Babbitt, 35, was a U.S. Air Force veteran from San Diego who served for more than a decade before leaving the military . On January 6, 2021, Babbitt was killed by a Capitol Police officer as she attempted to climb through a broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speaker's Lobby inside the Capitol. Babbitt was wearing a Trump campaign flag wrapped around her shoulders at the time of her death .

The Air Force's initial refusal to grant Babbitt military funeral honors was based on the assessment that her actions during the insurrection undermined the values and reputation of the military . Under Secretary Lohmeier’s reversal cited a reassessment of the circumstances and pressure from conservative legal groups advocating for Babbitt’s family .

Military funeral honors are traditionally offered to all veterans who were honorably discharged as well as those who died on active duty. The honors typically include the presence of at least two armed service members—one from the veteran’s branch—playing of taps, and the folding and presentation of the American flag . The level of ceremony depends on the deceased's highest rank and service history.

The Air Force’s decision comes at a time of heightened scrutiny regarding how different groups within the military are treated. LGBTQ+ advocates have pointed to the striking contrast between the reconsideration granted to Babbitt and the ongoing marginalization of transgender service members. Under current Trump administration policies, transgender people have been systematically forced out of uniform and have seen their earned retirement benefits rescinded, despite serving honorably.

Numerous LGBTQ+ rights organizations have condemned the Air Force's decision, emphasizing that honoring an individual who participated in an insurrection undermines the institution’s commitment to equality and justice. Meanwhile, transgender service members continue to face institutional barriers to recognition and benefit retention.

"These policies reflect a troubling double standard," said a spokesperson for a national LGBTQ+ military advocacy group. "While the Air Force finds it appropriate to retroactively honor an individual who stormed the Capitol, transgender veterans who served with distinction continue to be denied the respect and benefits they earned."

The Associated Press reported that the Trump administration agreed to pay nearly $5 million to Babbitt’s family to settle a wrongful death lawsuit arising from her shooting at the Capitol . The settlement has further fueled debate over the legacy of January 6 and the implications for military standards and accountability.

Political analysts suggest that the Air Force’s reversal is part of a broader pattern of decisions aligning with conservative pressure, and may set a precedent for future cases involving veterans whose post-service actions are controversial .