Sen. Reuben Gallego Challenges Military Honors for Ashli Babbitt

Senator Reuben Gallego (D-AZ) is attempting to stop the Defense Department from granting military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, a protester involved in the January 6th Capitol incident.

Gallego has expressed his concerns after the Department of Defense agreed to honor Babbitt with an Army funeral. He is now pushing for legislation that would prevent such honors from being awarded.

In his statement, Gallego emphasized that his bill comes from a sense of duty as someone who has served in the military and has laid to rest many Marines with full honors. He elaborated on his perspective, stating, “It’s troubling that honors are being offered to individuals who sought to undermine the government while breaching a secure area intended to protect democracy.”

He also indicated that he plans to ensure that those who supported Babbitt are held accountable, asserting, “I want people to know who stood with this traitor, Ashli Babbitt.”

On August 15, 2025, Air Force Secretary Matthew Lowmeyer declared that Babbitt would receive military funeral honors. In a letter to her family, he acknowledged a reevaluation of the circumstances surrounding her death, ultimately deciding that his initial judgment had been incorrect.

The resolution proposed by Gallego argues that Babbitt, who was shot while attempting to enter a restricted area, should not be entitled to military honors. It cites specific legal frameworks that disqualify her actions from being recognized in such a manner.

According to reports, Babbitt was at the forefront of the mob that invaded the Capitol, trying to break into the lobby while lawmakers were being evacuated. Tragically, she was shot by police, and a federal investigation later found that the shooting was justified.

The Pentagon had originally turned down the family’s request for military funeral honors, citing her illegal entry into the Capitol as a deciding factor. This earlier denial was confirmed in a letter published by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal organization.

Gallego recently stated on social media that military honors are meant for those who protect the Constitution, not for individuals like Babbitt, whom he referred to as a traitor.

Additionally, in May, the Trump administration agreed to a $5 million settlement with Babbitt’s family concerning her death, stemming from a lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch. The lawsuit highlighted that Babbitt was unarmed during the protests, noting that she was the only individual killed in the shooting incident that day.