A decorated FBI intelligence specialist has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was unlawfully terminated for displaying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at his workspace, in what his attorneys describe as part of the Trump administration's broader purge of federal employees.
Career Cut Short Over Symbol of Inclusion
David Maltinsky, who spent 16 years working in the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, was summarily dismissed last month after nearly completing special agent training. The termination letter, signed by FBI Director Kash Patel, cited "inappropriate display of political signage" as the reason for his immediate dismissal.
Maltinsky's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges Patel violated his rights to free speech and equal protection under the law. The suit also names Attorney General Pam Bondi, the FBI, and the Department of Justice as defendants.
"From a young age, all I have wanted to do is serve my country and ensure its security alongside the brilliant and dedicated men and women of the FBI," Maltinsky told HuffPost in a statement.
Contradictory Policies and Double Standards
The lawsuit reveals that Maltinsky had displayed the Pride flag at his Los Angeles office workspace since 2021, after receiving several flags from a special agent in recognition of his work with the FBI's diversity initiatives. This timing coincided with FBI headquarters authorizing federal buildings across the country to fly Pride flags beneath the American flag during LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June 2021.
According to court documents, the Los Angeles office had flown both a traditional rainbow Pride flag and a "Progress Pride" flag, which includes additional colors to represent people of color and transgender individuals.
"I displayed that Pride flag...not as a political statement, but as a symbol of inclusion, unity, and equal service," Maltinsky stated. "These are the values that once made the FBI strong. Now it is a place where people like me are targeted. I believe I was fired not because of who I am, but what I am: a proud gay man."
The lawsuit highlights that FBI policy allows employees to display other types of flags, including the Gadsden Flag with its "Don't Tread on Me" message and the Punisher flag with its black and white skull—both associated with far-right and right-wing movements.
Pattern of Terminations Under New Administration
Maltinsky's firing appears to be part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration. Shortly after Trump returned to office on January 20, an FBI employee reported concerns about Maltinsky's flag to his supervisor. However, his boss informed him that displaying the flag was "permissible and appropriate," and the chief legal adviser to the Los Angeles office confirmed it violated no agency policies.
Former FBI official Michael Feinberg condemned the termination last month, telling MSNBC: "What this employee was doing was not at all out of line, out of the norm or at all inappropriate. It's absolute madness, and the fact that Kash Patel would go after this individual is lunacy."
The lawsuit notes that after Trump's reelection, many LGBTQ+ FBI employees feared the administration would create lists of employees who had self-identified their sexual orientation or gender identity. Maltinsky told CBS News that numerous colleagues have since removed Pride flags from their workspaces.
Christopher Mattei, Maltinsky's lawyer, stated: "This case is about far more than one man's career—it's about whether the government can punish Americans simply for saying who they are. David's dream was to serve our country as an FBI Special Agent. When that dream was cruelly taken from him, he stayed true to his oath and is now fighting to protect the rights of all Americans."
The administration has terminated hundreds of federal employees since January, when Trump signed an executive order dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In February, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired over 100 intelligence officers after far-right activist Chris Rufo exposed private chats discussing gender-affirming care and other topics.
Maltinsky's distinguished career included receiving the FBI Director's Award for Excellence in 2020 and a DOJ award in 2022 for his work supporting equal employment opportunity programs. He had also assisted agents responding to cyberattacks by North Korea and traveled to Nigeria to help combat cybercrimes.
