The FBI has fired at least 15 agents who were photographed kneeling during racial justice protests in Washington, D.C., following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Multiple sources confirmed the terminations, a significant move by Director Kash Patel to reshape the agency.
The agents, some of whom were military veterans, were initially reassigned last spring before being dismissed.
Controversy Surrounding Firings
The kneeling, captured in photographs during the protests, was described by a source as a de-escalation tactic amid tense confrontations with demonstrators.
Nationwide protests erupted after Floyd’s death, fueling calls for racial justice and police accountability.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as “unlawful,” arguing they violated the agents’ due process rights.
“As Director Patel has repeatedly stated, nobody is above the law,” the association said.
“But rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, Patel chose to again violate the law.”
The association called for a congressional investigation, citing Patel’s alleged disregard for legal protections.
The firings are part of a broader personnel purge at the FBI, with sources noting a decline in morale following the dismissals of several top officials in August, including Steve Jensen, who oversaw investigations into the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, and Brian Driscoll, a former acting FBI director.
Concerns have surfaced about the agency’s ability to retain expertise and maintain public trust.
The FBI Agents Association warned that Patel’s actions “make it harder to recruit and retain skilled agents — ultimately putting our nation at greater risk.”
Patel, defending the firings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, insisted that dismissed agents failed to meet FBI standards and that his decisions were not influenced by the White House.
The FBI declined to comment on the matter, citing personnel issues.