In a stunning move, the FBI has terminated nearly two dozen agents for kneeling during the 2020 George Floyd protests in Washington, D.C., sparking intense debate over the motives behind the dismissals, Fox News reported.
Nearly 20 agents, photographed kneeling during demonstrations following George Floyd's death, have been fired as part of a broader effort by FBI Director Kash Patel to reshape the bureau's culture.
The events trace back to May 2020, when George Floyd, a Black man, was killed in Minneapolis by a White police officer who knelt on his neck for several minutes.
This tragic incident ignited nationwide protests, with kneeling becoming a powerful symbol of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and a demand for racial justice.
During one such demonstration in Washington, D.C., photographs captured FBI agents kneeling, a gesture some later described as a means of de-escalation amid tense encounters with angry crowds.
Over the years since, many of these agents were moved to less prominent roles within the bureau, signaling early repercussions for their actions.
Recent reports, including one from the Associated Press, indicate that approximately 20 agents have now been dismissed, while Reuters noted the number as more than a dozen.
These firings are part of a larger wave of personnel changes under FBI Director Kash Patel, who assumed the role during President Donald Trump's second term.
Patel has openly aimed to transform the bureau's culture, and allies, as reported by The Washington Post, have pointed to the kneeling incident as a sign of political bias among agents.
Critics, both within and outside the FBI, argue that these terminations represent a targeted purge, raising concerns about the fairness of the process.
The FBI Agents Association has strongly opposed the dismissals, labeling them as unlawful and a violation of civil service protections.
The association further cautioned that punishing agents for quick decisions made in high-pressure moments sets a troubling standard for the future.
One former agent, speaking to Reuters, emphasized the context of their actions, saying, "This wasn’t politics — it was survival."
Agents involved have expressed to Reuters that they felt trapped between directives to avoid conflict and the harsh reality of facing hostile crowds during the protests.
Meanwhile, the FBI has remained silent on the matter, declining to provide any statement to Fox News regarding the reported terminations.
