Washington D.C.: The FBI has terminated roughly 20 agents who were photographed kneeling during racial justice protests in Washington following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, according to sources familiar with the matter. The number of agents fired has not been officially confirmed, but sources told The Associated Press that over a dozen employees, including military veterans with statutory protections, were affected.
The agents had been reassigned last year but were now formally fired. The photographs at issue showed agents taking a knee during demonstrations that erupted nationwide after Floyd’s death, which sparked widespread anger and calls for police reform. While some within the bureau viewed the kneeling as a potential de-escalation tactic, it also provoked internal criticism.
FBI Agents Association Condemns Firings
The FBI Agents Association condemned the dismissals as unlawful, urging Congress to investigate. In a statement, the association said:
“As Director Patel has repeatedly stated, nobody is above the law. But rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, Patel chose to again violate the law by ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process.”
The statement highlighted that some of the fired agents were military veterans and had additional protections under the law.
Context of Wider Bureau Shakeup
The firings occur amid a broader personnel reshuffle under FBI Director Kash Patel, who is working to reshape the agency. Last month, several high-ranking agents and executives were also fired, including Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll, Chris Meyer, and Walter Giardina—many of whom were involved in high-profile investigations like Jan. 6 Capitol riot and Trump-related probes.
A lawsuit filed by Jensen, Driscoll, and another supervisor, Spencer Evans, alleged that Patel acknowledged the likely illegality of firing agents based on their casework but felt powerless due to pressure from the White House and Justice Department to remove all agents investigating Trump. Patel denied these claims in a congressional hearing last week, stating that all firings were due to failure to meet FBI standards.
An FBI spokesman declined to comment on the recent terminations. Critics warn that the ongoing dismissals have contributed to declining morale within the agency.
FBI Fires Agents Who Kneeling During 2020 George Floyd Protests
