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Federal Enforcement Officer

Join Our History, Be Our Future

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation's oldest and most versatile federal law enforcement agency. The missions of the Service include protection of the judiciary, court security, witness security, asset seizure and forfeiture, apprehension of fugitives, and prisoner transportation and custody.  

We are located throughout the nation and in U.S. Commonwealths and territories. The geographical structure of the U.S. Marshals Service mirrors the structure of United States district courts.  There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands and the two territories of the United States – the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Applications for Federal Enforcement Officer positions are only accepted through the USAJOBS site during posted announcement open periods. For the upcoming announcement only candidates in the Washington, DC (National Capital Region) will be considered. We encourage all interested applicants to create or update their USAJOBS accounts. We recommend you sign up for the email notification offered by USAJOBS to alert you when positions you are interested in are available.  For assistance with writing your Federal resume you can visit the Partnership for Public Service Go Government website. 

Do You Have What It Takes?

The U.S. Marshals Service is seeking highly qualified men and women from diverse backgrounds for an exciting and challenging career as a Federal Enforcement Officer. Our Federal Enforcement Officers are on the front line protecting the Federal judicial process, a mission that the U.S. Marshals Service has been responsible for since 1789.  Protecting court officials and safeguarding the public is a responsibility that permits no errors therefore we seek Federal Enforcement Officers who demonstrate the highest standards of excellence, dedication, and integrity.

As a Federal Enforcement Officer in the U.S. Marshals Service, you will perform a broad range of duties involving court room security, protection of judicial personnel, prisoner security and movement, cell block management, and the service of legal process. As a Federal Enforcement Officer, you may:

  • Work court security assignments for arraignments, hearings, and criminal and civil trials.
  • Provide personal protection inside the courtroom or federal buildings for court officials, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, and other members of the judicial process.
  • Oversee cellblock operations to ensure order and discipline, security, and safeguarding of prisoners/detainees.   
  • Search, restrain, provide sustenance, and administer basic medical interventions to inmates. 
  • Move inmates to and from holding cells to courtrooms and working with external detention or corrections entities, coordinate transportation of inmates to and from the courthouse, airports or other facilities. 
  • Provide physical transport of inmates, safely and securely, to and from detention facilities, airlift sites, and medical buildings. 
  • Participate in protective service details of court and government officials, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, etc. as an operator of detail vehicles or in the static security of a residence or building containing a protected person.
  • Research and verify the location of a recipient of legal process and work in conjunction with Deputy U.S. Marshals to safely execute the service of process.

If you have questions about the Federal Enforcement Officer position, please send an email to OperationalHiring@usdoj.gov.

For veteran information, refer to OPM’s VetGuide for preference criteria.

When will the United States Marshals Service be hiring?

There is no fixed schedule for hiring into the Federal Enforcement Officer position.  Opportunities are posted on USAJOBS when a position or multiple positions are available.

Applications for Federal Enforcement Officer positions are only accepted through the USAJOBS site during posted announcement open periods. We encourage all interested applicants to create or update their USAJOBS accounts. We recommend you sign up for the email notification offered by USAJOBS to alert you when positions you are interested in are available.

How long is the hiring process?

The hiring process is estimated to take anywhere from 16 to 20 months due to the rigorous employment screening process which includes multiple steps such as a qualifications review, an interview, a background investigation, and medical and fitness screening. 

Where is the nearest U.S. Marshals Service office?

The U.S. Marshals Service office nearest you can be found on our Local District Offices web page.

Where will I be assigned to work as a Federal Enforcement Officer?

Federal Enforcement Officer positions are assigned to many locations throughout the U.S. Marshals Service.  The available duty location(s) will be listed on the job announcement. 

What are the starting pay and benefits of a Federal Enforcement Officer?

Please visit Benefits and Compensation for more information.

Is a fitness test required for the Federal Enforcement Officer position?

Yes, the U.S. Marshals Service requires a fitness test for the Federal Enforcement Officer position.

Are Federal Enforcement Officer positions eligible to receive Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP)?

No, Federal Enforcement Officer positions are not eligible for Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP).  However, Federal Enforcement Officer positions are eligible to receive overtime and other premium pay in accordance with Federal pay regulations.