FBI Ousts Agents Who Knelt During 2020 Racial Justice Protests
The agents, initially reassigned last spring, were later fired in what current and former officials describe as part of a sweeping shake-up under Director Kash Patel.
WASHINGTON —Nearly two dozen FBI employees have been dismissed after being photographed kneeling during racial justice demonstrations in Washington following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, according to the Associated Press.
The agents, initially reassigned last spring, were later fired in what current and former officials describe as part of a sweeping shake-up under Director Kash Patel. The exact number dismissed has not been confirmed, though estimates put it at around 20.
Images of agents kneeling circulated widely at the time, drawing mixed reactions. Some inside the bureau viewed the gesture as an improper political statement, while others defended it as a tactic to defuse tensions during protests that gripped cities nationwide.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings, saying members were denied due process. The organization said veterans protected under federal law were among those terminated and called on Congress to investigate.
“These agents deserved fair treatment and legal protections,” the association said in a statement, accusing Patel of violating employees’ constitutional rights.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the dismissals.
The terminations come as Patel oversees a broader restructuring that has unsettled the bureau. In recent weeks, several senior officials have been abruptly removed, including agents tied to high-profile investigations of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and other politically sensitive cases.
Some of those ousted have filed lawsuits alleging the firings were politically motivated. Patel, testifying before lawmakers last week, rejected accusations of political interference, insisting decisions were based on performance and adherence to bureau standards.
The controversy adds to mounting friction inside the FBI as the agency grapples with questions of independence, morale, and accountability at a time when its credibility remains under close public scrutiny.
