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Who We Are

Who We Are

The ​​​​Federal Protective Service (FPS) ensures safe and secure working environments for federal workers and visitors in approximately 9,500 federal facilities nationwide.

Leadership and Organization

The Federal Protective Service is headed by Director Kris Cline.

The Federal Protective Service's area of responsibility covers the continental United States and U.S. territories. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., FPS is divided into 11 regions nationwide and is responsible for protecting over 8,500 Federal Facilities. Regional headquarters are located in metropolitan areas across the country, with approximately 200 field offices and 3 Mega Centers provide responses to over 534,000 calls for service annually.

Our History

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GSA document from 1971

The Federal Protective Service is a federal law enforcement agency that provides integrated security and law enforcement services in support of federally owned and leased facilities. FPS has a long history of protecting U.S. government facilities and safeguarding the millions of employees, contractors, and visitors who pass through them every day. Its history dates back to 1790 when six “night watchmen” were hired to protect government buildings in the newly designated nation’s capital that became Washington, D.C. Over time, the network of security guards evolved and was once known as the U.S. Special Police. 

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Historical image of a female FPS officer.

The Federal Protective Service was formally established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in 1971 with the mission of protecting federal facilities and their occupants. When the Homeland Security Act of 2002 was passed, FPS was transferred from GSA to the newly formed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and structured within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On October 28, 2009, the DHS Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Act transferred FPS to the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD). In 2019, FPS was transferred to the DHS Management Directorate. 

FPS commemorated 50 years in 2021! Watch the video message.

 

Zones and Regions

The Federal Protective Service is comprised of three Zones with 11 Regions. The following map depicts each region and the properties protected in 2021.

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Who We Are Regional Map showing the 11 different regions spread across the 3 different zones of Western, Central, and Eastern (outlined in sections below this map).

 

  • Region 8: Rocky Mountain
    • Properties Protected: 616
  • Region 9: Pacific Rim
    • Properties Protected: 1,096
      • Including Guam and Hawaii
  • Region 10: Northwest/Arctic
    • Properties Protected: 593
    • Including Alaska

  • Region 4: Southeast
    • Properties Protected: 1,460
  • Region 5: Great Lakes
    • Properties Protected: 983
  • Region 6: The Heartland
    • Properties Protected: 392
  • Region 7: Greater Southwest
    • Properties Protected: 1,475

  • Region 1: New England
    • Properties Protected: 399
  • Region 2: Northeast/Caribbean
    • Properties Protected: 516
    • Including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Region 3: Mid-Atlantic
    • Properties Protected: 790
  • Region 11: National Capital Region
    • Properties Protected: 662
    • Including Washington, D.C.
Last Updated: 06/17/2024
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