FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly fired an FBI agent in training on Wednesday after he displayed a pride flag on his desk last year in California while working at a field office. The FBI agent got a letter that claimed his desk had an improper political message display while he was in California serving a field assignment in 2024, before Donald Trump‘s second term as president.
The letter was signed by Kash Patel, and the notice reads, “After reviewing the facts and circumstances and considering your probationary status, I have determined that you exercised poor judgment with an inappropriate display of political signage in your work area during your previous assignment in the Los Angeles Field Office.”
It further says, “You are being summarily dismissed from your position as a New Agent Trainee at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and removed from the federal service.” The letter cites the president’s Article II powers that allow him to dismiss federal agency personnel (via The Daily Beast).
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 FBI Director Kash Patel fires FBI agent trainee for having a gay pride flag on his desk, MSNBC reports. pic.twitter.com/Q4tRxPgVK5
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) October 3, 2025
The same constitutional powers were used to justify the firing of several FBI agents and Department of Justice officials. Three people spoke on MSNBC to confirm the firing, while the dismissal letter was also reviewed.
The letter was dated October 1, which is the first day of the government shutdown, resulting in 40% federal workers on unpaid leave. Trump and Project 2025 architect Russel Vought have also threatened mass layoffs for federal workers. The officials have warned that this step would be against the Antideficiency Act.
The agent who was fired received the prestigious Attorney General’s Award in 2022 and was assigned to the FBI academy in Quantico. After the firing, other FBI agents were also checked for their work stations and social media accounts being appropriate and not offensive to Trump.
The agents have also warned each other about LGBTQ views, and outing themselves or showing support could land them in trouble. The Trump administration had shut down and closed the LGBTQ reserved group at the DOJ, calling it radical and wasteful.
Kash Patel has been in the middle of controversies lately. He was blamed for the situation with almost 20 FBI agents being fired after they kneeled down at George Floyd’s protest. The FBI agents condemned his actions.
Besides, he gifted 3D printed plastic guns to New Zealand officials, who had to destroy the pistols due to local laws. The country considers printed pistols as normal functioning ones if they are modified in a way to be used.
