Reports: FBI Discharges Agents Who Knelt During George Floyd Protests

WASHINGTON D.C. — A group of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents has been terminated after they were photographed kneeling during a 2020 racial justice demonstration following the death of George Floyd, according to reports from U.S. media outlets citing anonymous sources.

The agents reportedly joined demonstrators in Washington D.C. by “taking the knee,” a gesture that had become a widely recognized symbol of dissent against police misconduct and racial inequity. The act was specifically adopted after Floyd, a Black man, died when a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground for over nine minutes.

Dismissals Amidst Political Shift

While the precise number of agents dismissed on Friday remains unclear, estimates suggest the total is between 15 and 20.

The reported firings are occurring as the current Trump administration implements a sweeping directive to remove what it labels “woke” officials and left-leaning policies from federal agencies.

• Controversy: The images of federal agents kneeling drew immediate criticism from certain right-wing commentators, who interpreted the action as a political endorsement of the protest movement. Conversely, supporters of the agents argued the action was a practical measure to de-escalate tensions with the large crowds of protesters.
• Agency Response: The FBI did not provide an official comment on the agents’ termination. However, the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA) issued a statement strongly criticizing the dismissals, claiming the agents’ rights had been violated.

Broader Personnel Changes

This mass dismissal is the most recent in a succession of high-profile personnel changes within the Bureau. Other senior agents recently let go include former acting director Brian Driscoll, former Washington field office assistant director Steven Jensen, and former Las Vegas special agent in charge Spencer Evans.

Earlier this month, these three former officials initiated a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging their firings were politically motivated to appease President Trump.

The FBIAA warned that Director Patel’s “dangerous new pattern of actions” is negatively affecting the Bureau’s ability to “recruit and retain skilled agents,” thereby increasing the nation’s security risk.