FBI Director Kash Patel has terminated an agent-in-training for displaying a gay pride flag on his desk during a previous assignment in California, according to reports. The incident occurred while the individual was stationed at the Los Angeles Field Office under President Joe Biden’s administration.
A letter dated October 1 and signed by Patel cited “poor judgment” for the trainee’s alleged display of an “improper political message” in the workplace. The document referenced President Donald Trump’s Article II powers as a basis for the dismissal, a rationale used in recent firings across federal agencies. The termination coincided with the start of a nationwide government shutdown, which has created uncertainty for federal employees.
The trainee, who had previously worked as an FBI support specialist and received an Attorney General’s Award in 2022, was removed from his position at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Patel’s decision follows threats by Trump and White House officials to dismiss federal employees during the shutdown. The dismissal also aligns with the “One Flag Policy,” which prohibits displays of any flag other than the U.S. flag in federal buildings.
The trainee’s case is among several ongoing legal challenges against recent federal workforce changes. No further details about the individual or the specific circumstances of the flag’s display have been disclosed.