FBI Trainee Fired for Displaying Pride Flag on Desk

A trainee agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been fired after displaying a Pride flag on his desk during a previous assignment at the Los Angeles Field Office, according to an official termination letter first reported by NBC News and confirmed by other outlets. The letter, signed by FBI Director Kash Patel, cited "poor judgment with an inappropriate display of political signage in your work area" as the basis for the dismissal, making specific reference to the trainee's probationary status and invoking the President’s Article II constitutional authority to remove federal employees .

The firing took place against the backdrop of a significant shift in federal policies toward diversity and inclusion. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order rescinding several diversity and inclusion initiatives across the Department of Justice and other federal agencies. In the wake of these changes, DOJ Pride, the agency’s longtime LGBTQ+ employee organization, ceased operations at the end of January .

The termination letter, dated October 1, was delivered to the trainee during the first day of the federal government shutdown. The individual, whose identity has not been released, previously served as a field office diversity program coordinator and was recognized with the Attorney General’s Award in 2022 for their service .

The FBI has not made a public statement about the case. According to the termination letter, the display of the Pride flag was deemed an “impermissible, inappropriate display of political signage.” The letter did not explicitly mention the Pride flag but referred to workplace guidelines prohibiting displays that could be interpreted as political statements .

Legal experts and LGBTQ+ workplace advocates have expressed concern that the decision to classify a Pride flag as political signage could set a precedent for further restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility in federal workplaces. The move has also raised questions about the consistent application of workplace neutrality policies and whether such policies disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ employees .

In the aftermath of the firing, numerous FBI staff members reportedly began reviewing their own workspace displays and social media accounts for any content that could be interpreted as signaling sexual orientation or support for LGBTQ+ communities. According to staff accounts cited by NBC News, there has been increased caution among employees about expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights or disclosing their own identities since the 2024 presidential election .

These concerns have been echoed by legal and civil rights organizations, who warn of a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ inclusion and employee morale within federal law enforcement and other agencies.

The incident comes at a time when national security officials have reportedly considered controversial new policies affecting LGBTQ+ communities. Recent reporting by investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein suggested that the FBI was weighing whether to classify transgender suspects under a new threat category, “Nihilistic Violent Extremists,” sparking further alarm among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups .

The firing of the trainee agent has drawn swift condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, who argue that the display of a Pride flag should not be equated with partisan political messaging. “This action sends a dangerous message to LGBTQ+ federal employees and undermines the progress made toward workplace inclusion,” said a spokesperson for a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group .

With the federal government in a state of shutdown, the FBI’s public affairs office has only issued automated replies to media inquiries, indicating that questions not related to "national security, violations of federal law, and essential public safety functions" would be addressed after government operations resume .

Although DOJ Pride, the Department of Justice’s LGBTQ+ employee association, has ceased operations following the executive order, other groups and allies within the federal workforce have voiced their support for the dismissed agent. “Visibility matters, and so does solidarity,” said a former DOJ Pride leader, who requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation.

Advocacy organizations are calling for federal agencies to clarify policies around personal expression and to ensure that protections for LGBTQ+ employees remain in place, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision affirming that workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act .

The dismissed agent, who had a long career as a support specialist before becoming a trainee, has not commented publicly. It is unclear whether he intends to pursue legal action or appeal the decision. However, legal experts note that probationary federal employees have limited recourse in cases of summary dismissal, especially when executive authority is invoked .

LGBTQ+ rights organizations and legal advocates have vowed to monitor the situation and continue pressing for equitable treatment and visible support for LGBTQ+ federal employees. The case is expected to fuel ongoing debates about the boundaries of workplace expression, the politicization of LGBTQ+ symbols, and the future of inclusion efforts within federal agencies.