The oldest federal law-enforcement agency, created by the Judiciary Act of 1789. Its deputies apprehend tens of thousands of fugitives a year, manage seized assets, and guard the federal judiciary, a mission grown urgent as threats against judges rise.
Open the interactive page for USMS →Created bymarshals created by Judiciary Act of 1789, § 27 (1 Stat. 87); Service organized by AG order 1969; statutorily established by Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-690, § 7608(a)
Head appointed28 U.S.C. § 561(a): Director appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, no fixed term; § 561(c)-(d): a U.S. marshal for each judicial district, PAS, 4-year term, holds over until a successor qualifies (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory protection — at will; district marshals removable by the President notwithstanding the 4-year term — each continues in office "unless that marshal has resigned or been removed by the President," 28 U.S.C. § 561(d)
Funded underCommerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Salaries & Expenses plus Federal Prisoner Detention account); asset-seizure expenses payable from the Assets Forfeiture Fund, 28 U.S.C. § 524(c)
Congressional oversightHouse Committee on the Judiciary · Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Inspector generalDOJ OIG (PAS IG under IG Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403(a))
Judicial reviewno agency-specific review statute — APA § 702 suits; FTCA (incl. § 2680(h) law-enforcement proviso) and Bivens actions for deputy conduct; courts supervise marshals' service-of-process duties under 28 U.S.C. § 566
Vote for President and Senate; the Marshals Service issues few regulations, so influence runs through congressional appropriations and oversight.