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3h ago

FBI Fires Agents Who Kneeled During 2020 Protest, Union Says 15 Were Dismissed

The agents association denounces the dismissals as unlawful, citing due-process violations.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (officers take a knee with demonstrators, as they march on Pennsylvania Ave. on Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Washington, during a protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on September 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Patel is facing questions from lawmakers for the second straight day following a contentious hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he was criticized for his handling of investigations into the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk and the case related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
FBI Director Kash Patel testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary Commitee in Washington, D.C., on Sept.16, 2025.

Overview

  • Multiple outlets report roughly 15–22 terminations, with many tied to the viral kneeling photo from June 4, 2020 in Washington.
  • Sources say the kneeling was a de-escalation tactic, and an internal review under Christopher Wray found no policy breach at the time.
  • Agents linked to the incident were reassigned earlier this year before receiving termination notices this week.
  • The FBI Agents Association says 15 were dismissed, including military veterans with statutory protections, and it is urging Congress to investigate.
  • The firings align with a broader personnel shake-up under Director Kash Patel, as lawsuits by ousted senior officials allege political retribution; the FBI declined to comment.