FBI Fires 20 Agents Linked to 2020 George Floyd Protest Incident

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation fired up to 20 agents recently, including a group involved in a controversial kneeling incident during the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death, sources confirmed.

This round of dismissals resulted from a review by the FBI’s inspection division and recommendations from the bureau’s general counsel’s office. Approximately 15 of the terminated agents were linked to the kneeling incident, according to individuals briefed on the matter.

The FBI has chosen not to comment on these firings. However, the FBI Agents Association criticized the firings, asserting that they violate the due process rights of the agents involved. The association stated, “Patel’s dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce, and make it harder to recruit and retain skilled agents—ultimately putting our nation at greater risk.”

The kneeling incident gained significant attention as it occurred during widespread protests over racism and excessive policing after George Floyd’s death in May 2020. While agents faced confrontation from protesters, some chose to kneel to de-escalate tensions, a tactic that worked temporarily. This action was later met with backlash and scrutiny, particularly from conservative media and certain retired agents.

During this period, then-President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Bill Barr to restore order amid the protests. Despite FBI agents not being trained for crowd control, a decision was made to deploy them to manage demonstrations. This raised concerns about potential violence.

Initially, FBI leadership under former Director Christopher Wray concluded there was no policy violation related to the kneeling. However, FBI officials revisited the incident earlier this year and reassigned involved agents to less desirable roles, which many within the agency interpreted as demotions.

The firings on Friday are part of a broader effort by new FBI leadership to eliminate what Trump referred to as ‘woke’ and politicized elements within the agency. Additionally, the Justice Department is reviewing the conduct of over 1,500 agents connected to cases disfavored in the current political climate, including investigations involving Trump and his associates.

This story has been updated with further details.