TL;DR: The FBI has fired around 20 agents, including 15 involved in kneeling during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The move follows a policy shift under new Director Kash Patel and is part of a broader internal restructuring.
What Happened
- Around 20 FBI agents were fired, including about 15 who knelt during a June 4, 2020 protest in Washington, D.C., in what was seen as a de-escalation move amid George Floyd demonstrations.
- The agents were initially reassigned in 2024 but were terminated in 2025 after a review by the FBI’s inspection division and general counsel.
- The kneeling incident occurred during unrest following Floyd’s death, as agents attempted to calm tensions outside federal buildings by copying National Guard tactics.
- A prior review under former Director Christopher Wray found “no violation of policy,” but a reevaluation under current Director Kash Patel led to the firings.
Broader Context
- The firings are part of a larger purge aimed at removing what leadership calls “woke” or politically biased elements within the agency.
- Some of the dismissed agents were also reportedly connected to politically sensitive investigations, including cases involving Donald Trump or the January 6 Capitol attack.
- The FBI declined to comment officially. Fired agents claim the actions were politically motivated, with pressure from the Justice Department and White House.