Air Force Reverses Course, Grants Ashli Babbitt Military Funeral Honors After $5 Million Settlement
This week, the Air Force finally admitted they were wrong. Dead wrong. The US Air Force officially granted full military funeral honors to Senior Airman Ashli Babbitt. You know, the veteran shot and killed by Capitol Police on January 6, 2021. After years of denials and political games, new leadership looked at the facts. No politics. Just facts.
Undersecretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier wrote that after reviewing the circumstances of her death and “considering the information that has come forward since then,” he concluded the earlier denial was “incorrect.” Additionally, Lohmeier offered to meet with Babbitt’s family at the Pentagon. The reversal comes weeks after the federal government agreed to a nearly $5 million settlement with Babbitt’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit.
This isn’t just about one decision. It’s about whether military service means something or not. Babbitt served 14 years. She deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a security forces airman. She protected other Americans in combat zones. Those facts didn’t change between 2021 and 2025. Only the politics changed.
The original denial came from Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly in February 2021. He claimed giving funeral honors would hurt the Air Force’s reputation. Really? Since when does honoring a combat veteran’s service hurt anyone’s reputation? This decision wiped out 14 years of service with the stroke of a pen. Multiple combat deployments? Doesn’t matter. Volunteering to serve during wartime? Forget about it.
Here’s the thing that should make your blood boil. Babbitt did the job most Americans won’t do. Security forces airmen stand guard at bases around the world. They’re the ones checking vehicles at 3 AM in 120-degree heat. She did that in Iraq and Afghanistan, where any vehicle could be a bomb. The Department of Veterans Affairs says military funeral honors go to all veterans who served honorably. Babbitt earned that through 14 years of doing the hard stuff.
You can’t make this stuff up. The same people who talk about “supporting our troops” denied this veteran her honors. Why? Politics. Pure and simple. The federal government just paid her family $5 million in a wrongful death settlement. That’s taxpayer money fixing a political vendetta.
Want to see how crazy this has gotten? Just look at the reactions. Retired General Mike Flynn celebrated the reversal. He said this shows “how a leader is supposed to act.” He asked that Babbitt finally rest in peace. Makes sense, right? A general supporting military honors for a veteran.
But Democrat Representative Adam Kinzinger? He lost his mind. Called Babbitt an “insurrectionist.” Said the Air Force was dishonoring itself. Really, Adam? That’s your take? A veteran with 14 years of service doesn’t deserve military honors because you don’t like her politics? This is the same guy who cries about democracy on CNN every night.
Undersecretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier wrote that after reviewing the circumstances of her death and “considering the information that has come forward since then,” he concluded the earlier denial was “incorrect.” Additionally, Lohmeier offered to meet with Babbitt’s family at the Pentagon. The reversal comes weeks after the federal government agreed to a nearly $5 million settlement with Babbitt’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit.
This isn’t just about one decision. It’s about whether military service means something or not. Babbitt served 14 years. She deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a security forces airman. She protected other Americans in combat zones. Those facts didn’t change between 2021 and 2025. Only the politics changed.
The original denial came from Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly in February 2021. He claimed giving funeral honors would hurt the Air Force’s reputation. Really? Since when does honoring a combat veteran’s service hurt anyone’s reputation? This decision wiped out 14 years of service with the stroke of a pen. Multiple combat deployments? Doesn’t matter. Volunteering to serve during wartime? Forget about it.
Here’s the thing that should make your blood boil. Babbitt did the job most Americans won’t do. Security forces airmen stand guard at bases around the world. They’re the ones checking vehicles at 3 AM in 120-degree heat. She did that in Iraq and Afghanistan, where any vehicle could be a bomb. The Department of Veterans Affairs says military funeral honors go to all veterans who served honorably. Babbitt earned that through 14 years of doing the hard stuff.
You can’t make this stuff up. The same people who talk about “supporting our troops” denied this veteran her honors. Why? Politics. Pure and simple. The federal government just paid her family $5 million in a wrongful death settlement. That’s taxpayer money fixing a political vendetta.
Want to see how crazy this has gotten? Just look at the reactions. Retired General Mike Flynn celebrated the reversal. He said this shows “how a leader is supposed to act.” He asked that Babbitt finally rest in peace. Makes sense, right? A general supporting military honors for a veteran.
But Democrat Representative Adam Kinzinger? He lost his mind. Called Babbitt an “insurrectionist.” Said the Air Force was dishonoring itself. Really, Adam? That’s your take? A veteran with 14 years of service doesn’t deserve military honors because you don’t like her politics? This is the same guy who cries about democracy on CNN every night.
70-79, M
