The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has dismissed approximately 20 agents, including a group photographed kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington, D.C., following the police killing of George Floyd. The terminations, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, have sparked heated debate over political loyalty and free expression within law enforcement.
The incident occurred on June 4, 2020, during nationwide protests over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, where a white police officer knelt on the Black man’s neck for nearly nine minutes. As demonstrators marched near the White House, FBI agents from the Washington Field Office encountered protesters urging them to take a knee. The agents knelt briefly to de-escalate tensions, allowing the march to proceed peacefully.
The image of the kneeling agents went viral, symbolizing solidarity with protesters against systemic racism and police brutality. However, it drew criticism from conservative commentators and some within the FBI, who saw it as politicizing their roles. Then-Attorney General William Barr reportedly pushed for disciplinary action, though initial internal reviews cleared the agents, deeming their actions a tactical choice rather than a political statement.
In 2025, under FBI Director Kash Patel, appointed by President Donald Trump, the bureau has undergone significant changes. The agents involved were reassigned last spring and have now been fired as part of a broader wave of dismissals, with about 15 tied to the kneeling incident. Many were military veterans with additional statutory protections.
The FBI declined to comment on the firings, but Patel, in recent congressional testimony, defended the personnel changes, stating that the dismissed employees “failed to meet the FBI’s standards.” Critics argue the terminations are politically motivated. The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as violations of due process, calling for a congressional probe and noting the impact on veterans.
A lawsuit filed by several ousted FBI supervisors, including Steve Jensen, who led Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations, and former acting Director Brian Driscoll, alleges Patel admitted the dismissals were “likely illegal” but proceeded under pressure from the White House and Justice Department to target those involved in Trump-related probes or symbolic acts like the kneeling. The suit claims the firings are part of an effort to purge perceived “deep state” elements, reflecting Trump’s criticisms of the FBI.
Patel’s tenure has seen additional removals, including five top executives last month, contributing to low morale and fears of politicization within the agency. On social media, reactions range from support for the firings as a necessary “cleaning house” to outrage over what some call an attack on peaceful de-escalation.
The episode highlights lingering divisions from the 2020 protests, which spurred millions to action and prompted policing reforms nationwide. For the affected agents, the firings mark a bitter end to their careers, raising questions about balancing empathy with impartiality in federal law enforcement. The FBI Agents Association has called for congressional intervention, while civil rights advocates warn the terminations could discourage future efforts to bridge divides during public confrontations. The lawsuit’s resolution remains pending, but it will likely keep scrutiny on Patel’s controversial leadership.