FBI Director Kash Patel dismisses trainee for having Pride Flag on his desk
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FBI Director Kash Patel has come under scrutiny following the dismissal of a trainee agent who displayed a Pride Flag at his desk during a previous assignment in California. The termination, which took place on 1 October, coincided with the first day of a nationwide government shutdown and has sparked concern across federal agencies.
According to a dismissal letter reviewed by multiple news outlets, Patel cited the flag as an “inappropriate display of political signage” and accused the trainee of exercising “poor judgment” during his probationary period. The letter, signed by Patel, stated that the trainee was being “summarily dismissed” from his position at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and removed from federal service.
The individual, who had previously served as a support specialist in the Los Angeles Field Office, had reportedly received an Attorney General’s Award in 2022 for his contributions to the bureau. Despite his record, the display of the pride flag was deemed grounds for termination under Article II of the U.S. Constitution - a provision increasingly invoked by the Trump administration to justify removals of federal personnel.
The firing has raised alarm among FBI staff, particularly in the Washington field office, where agents have reportedly begun reviewing their workspaces and social media profiles for any content that could be construed as politically sensitive. The move follows a broader pattern of dismissals under Patel’s leadership, including the recent termination of over a dozen agents who had taken a knee during racial justice protests in 2020.
The incident also comes amid the shuttering of DOJ Pride, an LGBTQ employee resource group within the Department of Justice. The group ceased operations in January, shortly after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from federal agencies.
The FBI has not issued an official comment on the dismissal, and the identity of the trainee has not been publicly disclosed.
