The FBI has reassigned several agents who were photographed kneeling in solidarity with protesters during a racial justice demonstration following the death of George Floyd in 2020. The quiet reshuffling of their roles comes nearly five years after the viral image and as the agency undergoes sweeping personnel changes under Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
The reasons for the reassignments have not been publicly disclosed, but they are being interpreted by some as political retaliation. The FBI agents, who were once holding senior positions in counterterrorism, cybercrime, and counterintelligence, were reportedly moved to less favorable roles without explanation.
A significant group of FBI agents took a knee with #BLM protesters in Washington DC today by the national archives. This was very surprising to see. pic.twitter.com/qbgabCfplV
— Jim Manico from Manicode Security (@manicode) June 5, 2020
The moment in question occurred during widespread protests in Washington, D.C., after the death of Floyd, a Black man killed during an arrest by Minneapolis police. The agents knelt, a gesture seen by many as a de-escalation tactic during a time of national unrest. Though controversial within the Bureau, no disciplinary action was taken against the agents at the time, and internal reviews concluded no policy violations had occurred.
Fast forward to 2025, with Donald Trump back in the White House and a new FBI leadership team in place, the bureau appears to be taking a different stance. Deputy Director Dan Bongino has been vocal about restoring trust among conservatives who have long accused the FBI of harboring political bias.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Bongino stated, “The Director and I are working on a number of significant initiatives to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated.” While he didn’t reference the kneeling agents directly, the message has fueled speculation about whether the reassignments are part of a larger purge targeting those seen as not fully aligned with the administration’s vision.
Civil rights advocates are sounding the alarm, questioning whether federal law enforcement is being used to send a message to current employees: fall in line or face consequences. “These moves raise serious concerns about free expression and political litmus tests within a supposedly independent agency,” said one source familiar with internal tensions.
The FBI has declined to comment on the specific personnel moves, citing a policy of not discussing internal reassignments.
