Title 50 › CHAPTER 46 — CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY › § 3515
The Director can let Agency staff in the United States act like Department of Homeland Security officers under 40 U.S.C. 1315(b)(2) and use the same powers, but only in certain places: the Agency Headquarters and nearby Federal Highway Administration property, other Agency installations and protected property, installations owned or leased for one year or more by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the streets, sidewalks, and open areas within 500 yards of those properties. Using those powers in the 500-yard public areas is allowed only when the staff have specific, clear facts that make it reasonable to act to prevent physical harm or threats to Agency places, property, or employees. The Director’s rules apply only inside the installations and protected property and do not limit other federal, state, or local law enforcement. The Director may set penalties for breaking those rules, but they cannot exceed the maximum for a Class B misdemeanor under 18 U.S.C. 3559. Designated staff must be clearly identified as U.S. Government security personnel while doing this work. For tort-liability purposes, those staff are treated as acting in the scope of their job when they take reasonable action, including force if needed, to protect someone from a violent crime, help someone threatened with bodily harm, or stop someone they reasonably believe committed a violent crime in their presence. This does not change the Attorney General’s authorities under 28 U.S.C. 2679. “Crime of violence” has the meaning in 18 U.S.C. 16.
Full Legal Text
War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
50 U.S.C. § 3515
Title 50, War and National Defense
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110