Director Kash Patel continues sweeping reforms targeting “politicization” within the bureau.
WASHINGTON — The FBI has terminated approximately 20 agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest outside the agency’s headquarters in June 2020, according to sources and public reports. The demonstration took place in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
The dismissals are part of a broader overhaul initiated under FBI Director Kash Patel, who was appointed in early 2025. Since spring 2025, the agents had been reassigned to non-operational duties. To date, Patel’s restructuring has led to more than 100 personnel dismissals, which he has described as efforts to root out political activism within the bureau.
While the kneeling gesture was widely seen at the time as an attempt to de-escalate tensions with protesters, the FBI has not publicly specified the reasons for the individual firings.
The move has drawn strong reactions online. Independent journalist Nick Sortor posted on X: “BREAKING: FBI Director Kash Patel has just FIRED the agents who kneeled during the George Floyd riots in 2020, per AP. FINALLY! Good riddance! Keep cleaning house, @FBIDirectorKash!”
