FBI Trainee Fired After Displaying Pride Flag, Sources Tell CNN

A longtime FBI employee in training to become a special agent has been fired after previously displaying a Pride flag at his workstation, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.

The dismissal came in the form of a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel, ordering the agent trainee to leave immediately. Sources told CNN the letter cited “poor judgment” and “an inappropriate display of political signage,” though the Pride flag was not mentioned directly.

The employee, who had served in non-agent roles with the FBI and earned multiple awards for service, also coordinated diversity programs at a field office during his career. Two FBI veterans told CNN that displaying a Pride flag at one’s desk had not previously violated bureau policy.

The firing follows President Donald Trump’s repeated vows to purge “woke ideology” from federal agencies. Patel has removed or forced out several FBI personnel since taking over, including three senior executives now suing, claiming their departures were politically motivated.

Just last week, Patel dismissed more than a dozen employees who had taken a knee during 2020 demonstrations while on crowd control duty in Washington, D.C. The action at the time was deemed by prior FBI leadership not to violate policy and was seen by some as a de-escalation tactic.

The FBI has not responded to requests for comment.

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