The Department of Homeland Security has placed a Federal Emergency Management Agency data analyst on administrative leave after the employee posted on social media criticizing President Donald Trump’s order to fly flags at half-staff in memory of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Sources at DHS and FEMA confirmed to Fox News Digital that Gavin Sylvia, who joined FEMA in November 2024 as a data analyst, questioned the flag directive on Instagram, writing, "Half mast for the literal racist homophobe misogynist." The comment came after Kirk was shot and killed at an event in Utah.
A FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the employee’s words were "revolting and unconscionable," saying, "Celebrating the death of a fellow American is appalling, unacceptable and sickening." The statement said such behavior does not reflect the values of public service and "will not be tolerated among individuals entrusted to work at FEMA. We expect all public servants to uphold the highest standard of professionalism, respect and integrity."
DHS confirmed the administrative leave. Agency officials said other federal entities have been monitoring employee social media responses to Kirk’s murder and taking action as warranted.
The U.S. Coast Guard posted on X that any social media activity that endorses the murder or slanders Kirk "is contrary to our core values." An official identified in reporting as Assistant to the Secretary of War, Sean Parnell, also posted on X that celebrating or mocking the assassination of a fellow American is unacceptable and that the department has zero tolerance for it. Senior federal employees who spoke with Fox News Digital described online attacks on Kirk after his death as disgraceful; one senior official called such commentary the product of "weak people, with weak minds, saying weak things."
Kirk, 31, a father of two and a prominent conservative activist, was killed in a targeted attack at an event in Utah. Authorities, including the FBI and local law enforcement, have been collecting home surveillance video and other evidence and are asking the public for information as they search for a suspect.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sylvia for comment and received no response.
The action against the FEMA employee comes amid heightened sensitivity across federal agencies about staff conduct online following the high-profile killing and the presidential order lowering flags. Federal employment rules generally require employees to adhere to standards of conduct in public communications, and agencies have in recent years stepped up review of social media posts by employees in sensitive positions.
DHS and FEMA did not specify how long the administrative leave would last or whether further disciplinary steps were under consideration. The department said it would continue to enforce standards of professionalism for its workforce while investigators pursue leads related to the Kirk shooting.