Other mistake: After falling in the pool, Sandra Bullock is hiding behind some clothes while she's filming. The FBI guys are watching the feed. When we see the feed, it starts showing her moving into the crowd. The problem is the shot cuts and Bullock is stationary. She starts moving after that.
Other mistake: When Stan and Kathy call out the Top 10, they only call out 7 names, leaving out Miss Nebraska, Miss Vermont and Miss Ohio, who are also part of the Top 10. (01:23:45)
Other mistake: First glimpse of the San Antonio venue, and there's a long shot of the entrance, showing a few people at the door. As the camera pans back, a girl in the centre of the shot spots the camera, staring right at it, and even shades her eyes from the sun to get a better look. (00:34:00)
Other mistake: In the first scene where they show the talents (they are outdoors) there's a girl playing the flute. For all you musically inclined, she takes a noticeable breath while the note is still playing. (00:52:10)
Other mistake: When Gracie falls down when she is getting on the bus to go to breakfast, if you turn the caption on it says that Mrs. Morningside called her Miss. Greenbush when her name is suppose to be Freebush.
Answer: Somewhere between your second and third guess, in my opinion. Firing would require a far more complex due process under Federal rules. But McDonald certainly has the authority to determine what missions will and won't be pursued under the authority of the FBI. He's essentially telling her that this is a rogue action on her part, and she may not use her status as an FBI agent, nor her government issued weapon, to pursue it. She also won't be paid for her time and efforts in the process.
Michael Albert