On September 28, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ignited a political and ethical firestorm by firing nearly 20 agents who had been photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington, D.C., more than five years earlier. The demonstration, held in June 2020 after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, had been one of countless public outpourings of grief and anger that swept the nation and the world. Yet, the FBI’s move to revisit and punish acts tied to that historic moment is now reverberating through the agency, Congress, and the wider public, raising thorny questions about loyalty, neutrality, and the boundaries of personal expression in federal law enforcement.
According to BBC and The Associated Press, the agents were dismissed for what the bureau described as a “lack of judgment” in kneeling during the protest, a gesture that became a symbol of dissent against racism after footage of Floyd’s death went viral. The act of kneeling, which former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick had already turned into a protest against racial injustice, was adopted by activists, public officials, and even some police officers as a show of solidarity during the 2020 demonstrations. Within the FBI, though, the gesture proved divisive—seen by some as a necessary de-escalation tactic during tense protests, but by others as a breach of the bureau’s image of impartiality.
Initial internal reviews in 2020 reportedly found that the agents’ actions did not violate FBI policy, and no disciplinary action was taken at that time. However, under the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel in 2025, the bureau revisited the incident. According to CBS News and IBTimes, the agents had been reassigned earlier in the year, but were formally terminated in September. The number of dismissed agents is estimated to be between 15 and 20, with several being military veterans entitled to additional statutory protections.
The FBI has declined to comment on the matter, but the firings have not gone unnoticed. The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a nonprofit advocacy group representing bureau employees, immediately condemned the dismissals as “unlawful.” In a statement obtained by AP, the association declared, “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 FBIAA went on to argue that such actions “are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce, and make it harder to recruit and retain skilled agents—ultimately putting our nation at greater risk.”
Several terminated agents, including those with military backgrounds, have already filed lawsuits against both Director Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. They allege that the firings were retaliatory and “likely illegal,” carried out to appease political interests rather than uphold any genuine standard of conduct. The lawsuits claim that Patel himself communicated he believed the firings were “likely illegal” but that he was powerless to stop them due to pressure from the White House and the Justice Department. Patel, for his part, denied at a recent congressional hearing that he was taking orders from the White House on personnel matters, asserting that “anyone who has been fired failed to meet the FBI’s standards.”
The controversy has spilled over into Congress, with the FBIAA calling for a formal investigation into what it describes as an overreach by current FBI leadership. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are now facing mounting pressure to address not only the firings but the broader issue of politicization within the bureau. According to AP, the Justice Department is currently reviewing the conduct of some 1,500 agents, including those who worked on cases that may have displeased the current administration or involved former President Donald Trump and his allies.
Adding fuel to the fire, the firings come amid a wider personnel purge at the FBI. Several high-profile agents and executives—such as Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll, and Spencer Evans—have also been dismissed in recent months. Jensen had overseen investigations into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, while Driscoll had served as acting FBI director in the early days of the Trump administration. Their departures, along with those of the kneeling agents, have contributed to what current and former officials describe as declining morale within the bureau. Some agents have resigned, citing a loss of institutional knowledge and a growing sense of distrust between leadership and the rank and file.
The public response has been swift and polarized. On social media, alarm has been raised over what some see as the selective enforcement of discipline—especially when compared to the lack of consequences for other officials, such as Trump’s former border czar Tom Homan, who faced bribery allegations but was never prosecuted. According to NBC News, this perceived double standard has only deepened suspicions that the justice system is being weaponized to protect political allies and punish perceived foes.
Civil rights advocates have also weighed in, arguing that the kneeling agents were attempting to calm tensions during a volatile moment, not making a political statement. As one observer told IBTimes, “For some, the kneeling was a human response to unprecedented protests. For others, it was an inappropriate act that undermined the bureau’s image of impartiality.” The terminations, they argue, could set a chilling precedent—discouraging agents from employing de-escalation tactics in future protests for fear of reprisal.
The firings have already begun to affect the FBI’s ability to recruit and retain talent, according to the FBIAA. Potential candidates may think twice about joining an agency where gestures of empathy—even those intended to prevent violence—can later be grounds for dismissal. The lawsuits now making their way through the courts are expected to test the limits of constitutional protections for federal employees and could set a precedent for how law enforcement agencies nationwide handle symbolic gestures in highly charged situations.
As Congress gears up to examine the firings and the lawsuits unfold, the FBI finds itself at a crossroads. The outcome of this controversy will not only shape the future of the bureau but could also influence how the nation’s law enforcement agencies balance the demands of neutrality, loyalty, and humanity in the years to come.
