A federal judge ruled the FBI lawfully fired former agent Peter Strzok over critical texts, upholding workplace speech limits for public employees.

Former FBI agent Peter Strzok has lost his First Amendment lawsuit over his 2018 termination, with a federal judge ruling the FBI’s decision was lawful and not retaliation for protected speech. The court rejected Strzok’s claim that private text messages criticizing then-candidate Donald Trump violated his constitutional rights, stating such communications, made in a government workplace context, could undermine agency integrity and public trust. The judge also dismissed Strzok’s argument that a prior disciplinary agreement—calling for a demotion and 60-day suspension—had become binding, noting the FBI leadership retained discretion to cancel it. The ruling affirms the government’s authority to enforce workplace standards and maintain impartiality in federal law enforcement, setting a precedent on the limits of free speech for public employees.