Overview

• The trainee in new agent training at Quantico was dismissed for what Patel called an "inappropriate" political display tied to a Pride flag shown during a prior Los Angeles assignment.
• A dismissal letter reviewed by outlets invoked presidential Article II authority and cited the employee’s probationary status in ordering summary removal.
• The notice was dated Oct. 1, the first day of the federal shutdown, after public warnings from President Trump and OMB Director Russell Vought about broad workforce cuts.
• The employee previously worked as a support specialist in the Los Angeles field office, coordinated diversity efforts, and received an Attorney General’s Award in 2022.
• News of the firing prompted internal concern, with some agents reviewing workstations and social media, and two FBI veterans told CNN a Pride flag historically did not violate bureau policy.