In what’s being hailed by critics of the previous FBI leadership as a long-overdue course correction, multiple FBI agents photographed kneeling in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protestors during the George Floyd riots in 2020 have now reportedly faced disciplinary reassignment under the Trump administration’s new FBI Director, Kash Patel.
The incident in question dates back to June 4, 2020, when the streets of Washington, D.C., were filled with protests—many peaceful, others veering into vandalism and chaos. During that chaotic time, a group of FBI agents, mostly women, were photographed kneeling before demonstrators near federal buildings. The act was interpreted by many at the time as a gesture of solidarity, but it instantly triggered a backlash inside and outside the bureau.
Fast forward nearly five years, and the image remains a symbol—either of empathetic outreach or of institutional compromise, depending on where one stands. For new leadership at the FBI under Patel, that moment wasn’t forgotten. And now, it seems the agents involved are facing internal consequences, reportedly in the form of reassignment to less prominent roles—widely viewed as de facto demotions.
BREAKING: FBI agents photographed kneeling during the BLM George Floyd protests have been reassigned. pic.twitter.com/5YfDMTC3VN
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) April 30, 2025
CNN’s report—which was notably defensive—framed the action as part of a broader “purge” of what President Trump and Patel have termed “woke” or politicized elements within federal law enforcement. But critics of the kneeling agents see the decision as a necessary recalibration, arguing that federal agents shouldn’t publicly endorse any political movement, particularly one tied to incidents of violence and a polarizing ideological agenda.
The kneeling gesture, regardless of intent, created terrible optics for an agency whose credibility hinges on impartiality, professionalism, and neutrality. And the fallout, according to insiders, was immediate. Some of the kneeling agents were ostracized by colleagues, while others were reportedly criticized internally for undermining the agency’s standing and emboldening activists who had, in some cases, openly threatened federal property and personnel.
For Patel, these disciplinary moves appear to be about more than just a photograph. They represent a broader push to restore the FBI’s apolitical posture—something that has been under scrutiny from both parties over the past decade.
With Trump returning to the White House and declaring war on what he calls the “deep state,” Patel’s appointment was always going to be a signal of reform. These early moves make clear that symbolic gestures that blur the lines between activism and law enforcement will not be tolerated.
Critics may cry foul, and outlets like CNN are already portraying the decisions as ideologically driven. But to many Americans, particularly those skeptical of the FBI’s conduct in recent years, these steps are seen as a return to seriousness, where public safety and neutrality take precedence over symbolic politics.
