FBI Fires Agents Over 2020 Kneeling

The FBI has fired roughly 15–22 agents — about 20 by most reports — who were photographed kneeling during Washington racial‑justice demonstrations after George Floyd’s 2020 killing. The agents were reassigned earlier this year and their dismissals are part of a broader personnel purge under Director Kash Patel that officials say has damaged morale. The agents say kneeling was a de‑escalation tactic while deployed to protect federal property under orders tied to the Trump administration, and the FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as unlawful and urged Congress to investigate for lack of due process. Several former senior agents have filed lawsuits alleging improper terminations and politicized retribution, and civil‑rights lawyers and commentators criticized the move. Reporting notes the bureau previously reviewed the kneeling incident and initially did not discipline the agents; the FBI declined to comment on personnel matters.