The FBI has fired a group of special agents photographed kneeling during racial justice protests in 2020, a gesture the bureau says violated internal standards.
Sources estimate between 15 and 22 agents were dismissed, though the FBI has not confirmed the exact number. At the time, the kneeling was described not as a political statement of support for Black Lives Matter, but as a de-escalation tactic during the tense demonstrations that followed the killing of George Floyd.
Initially, the agents had only been reassigned to lesser or demoted roles, with no formal disciplinary action taken. That stance shifted under current FBI Director Kash Patel, who ordered the terminations as part of what some describe as sweeping personnel changes inside the bureau.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the move, calling the firings unlawful and a violation of civil service protections, particularly affecting military veterans. Several of the dismissed agents have filed a lawsuit alleging the decision was politically motivated and linked to investigations involving former President Donald Trump.
