What is federal protective service?

The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for providing security and law enforcement services to federal buildings, properties, and personnel. FPS is a component of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

FPS has a nationwide presence and is responsible for providing security to approximately 9,000 federal facilities, including offices, courthouses, and embassies. The agency's primary responsibilities include protecting federal facilities against terrorism and other criminal acts, conducting security assessments of federal facilities, and investigating crimes that occur on federal property.

FPS employs approximately 900 full-time law enforcement officers and over 15,000 contract security guards who are responsible for providing physical security to federal facilities. The agency also operates a 24/7 emergency operations center that is staffed by trained personnel who can coordinate responses to incidents that occur at federal facilities.

In addition to its law enforcement responsibilities, FPS also provides security training to federal employees and other stakeholders, operates a centralized alarm monitoring system, and collaborates with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of federal facilities.