United States Capitol Police — Protecting Congress & the Capitol Complex

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is the law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the U.S. Congress, its members, employees, visitors, and the Capitol complex — a 270-acre area in Washington, D.C. that includes the Capitol building, Senate and House office buildings, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court building, and surrounding grounds. With approximately 2,300 sworn officers and 800 civilian employees, the USCP is one of the largest police forces in the United States. The agency was established in 1828 (making it one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies) and operates under the authority of the Capitol Police Board — composed of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the House, and the Architect of the Capitol. See Congressional Operations for the broader legislative branch structure and FBI for the federal agency that investigates threats against members of Congress. The USCP's mission expanded dramatically after September 11, 2001 and the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol — which was the most significant breach of the Capitol since the British burned it in 1814 and resulted in the deaths of multiple officers and rioters. Post-January 6 reforms increased USCP funding, staffing, intelligence capabilities, and coordination with the National Guard and other federal agencies. The USCP also provides protective details for congressional leadership and has nationwide jurisdiction for threats against members of Congress.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 2 U.S.C. §§ 1901–1979 — United States Capitol Police (establishment, duties, jurisdiction, personnel)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1961 — Policing authority; general duties
• 2 U.S.C. § 1966 — Protection of Members of Congress, officers, and employees
• 2 U.S.C. § 1970 — Assistance by executive departments and agencies (post-January 6 coordination authority for federal agencies to support USCP)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1901a — Capitol Police Board (governing body: Sergeant at Arms of the House, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Architect of the Capitol; oversees USCP operations, budget, and policy)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1909 — Inspector General for the United States Capitol Police (independent IG conducting audits, investigations, and inspections of USCP operations and expenditures)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1911 — General Counsel to the Chief of Police (provides legal counsel to the USCP; represents the department in legal proceedings)
• 2 U.S.C. § 1951-1952 — United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund (permanent fund established for families of officers killed or disabled in the line of duty; includes provisions for specific fallen officers)

How It Works

The United States Capitol Police have primary jurisdiction over the Capitol complex — the Capitol building, Senate office buildings (Russell, Dirksen, Hart), House office buildings (Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn), the Library of Congress buildings, the Capitol Visitor Center, and surrounding grounds and streets. Within this perimeter, USCP officers handle all law enforcement functions: access control, screening, patrol, criminal investigation, and emergency response. The USCP also carries nationwide jurisdiction to investigate and arrest for threats against members of Congress and their families — threat assessment teams evaluate thousands of threats annually. Unlike most federal law enforcement, which reports to the executive branch, the USCP answers to the Capitol Police Board — a legislative branch entity consisting of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (rotating chair), the House Sergeant at Arms, and the Architect of the Capitol. This structure keeps congressional security insulated from executive branch influence, but the Board drew intense criticism after January 6 for slow, dysfunctional decision-making on National Guard assistance during the attack.

The USCP provides 24/7 protective details for congressional leadership — the Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, and others as warranted by threat assessments — and coordinates security for high-profile events including State of the Union addresses, inaugurations, and hearings with elevated threat levels. The January 6, 2021 attack exposed significant intelligence, staffing, equipment, and inter-agency coordination failures. Subsequent reforms included a $2.1 billion supplemental appropriation for Capitol security; creation of a dedicated intelligence division; authorization for the USCP Chief to request National Guard assistance directly without waiting for Capitol Police Board approval; enhanced officer wellness programs (multiple officers died by suicide following January 6); improved coordination with FBI, Secret Service, and D.C. Metropolitan Police; and installation of retractable vehicle barriers, improved camera systems, and mobile fencing capabilities.

How It Affects You

If you're visiting the Capitol or Capitol complex: Every entrance to the Capitol building, Senate and House office buildings, and the Capitol Visitor Center is controlled by USCP — expect bag checks, walk-through magnetometers, and in some buildings, ID verification and appointment confirmation. The Capitol Visitor Center (underground, east side of the Capitol) is the primary public entry for tours; free tours are booked through your representative's or senator's office, sometimes months in advance during peak season. Post-January 6 security enhancements are visible throughout the complex: retractable vehicle barriers at road access points, more uniformed officers, improved perimeter camera coverage, and enhanced screening for anyone entering restricted areas. If you're coming for a constituent meeting with a member's office, your contact in that office typically handles access; if you're attending a public hearing, access is usually available while seating lasts. The Botanic Garden and Library of Congress public reading rooms are AOC-managed spaces with separate but related USCP coverage.

If you're a member of Congress: The USCP's threat assessment division evaluates thousands of threats against members annually — the volume of credible threats has increased significantly post-January 6, and after the 2017 shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise at a congressional baseball practice and the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi at his home. USCP has nationwide jurisdiction to investigate and make arrests for threats against members and their immediate families, regardless of where the threat originates. For congressional leadership (Speaker, Majority/Minority Leaders, others designated by threat assessment), USCP provides 24/7 protective details. For rank-and-file members, USCP provides security briefings, threat assessments for district offices, and resources for constituent events. If you receive a threat — written, online, or in person — report it immediately to USCP regardless of how credible it seems; the threat assessment division tracks patterns across all members.

If you're a congressional staff member: Your workplace security is a USCP responsibility — the Capitol complex is your employer's facility, and USCP officers are the law enforcement presence. Post-January 6, the USCP has improved evacuation training, shelter-in-place protocols, and emergency alert systems for complex employees. Staff in Capitol complex buildings work with rigorous access controls and regular security communications; district office staff, who work in constituency offices outside the Capitol, have more limited direct USCP support but can access USCP security assessment services and consult with the office's USCP liaison. Multiple officers died by suicide following the January 6 attack — officer wellness programs are now a significant focus, and staff may occasionally interact with colleagues affected by the psychological toll of that event.

If you're a taxpayer following federal security spending: USCP's annual budget has grown from roughly $450 million before January 6 to approximately $700 million in FY2025, plus a $2.1 billion post-January 6 supplemental appropriation that funded physical security upgrades, intelligence capabilities, and staffing expansion. The USCP's oversight structure is unique — it reports to the Capitol Police Board (a legislative branch entity composed of the two Sergeants at Arms and the Architect of the Capitol), not to the President or Attorney General. This structure, intended to preserve legislative branch independence from executive branch control, came under intense criticism during January 6 for contributing to slow decision-making on requesting National Guard assistance. Post-January 6 reforms authorized the USCP Chief to request National Guard assistance directly without Board approval in emergency situations — a significant structural change aimed at closing the authorization gap that delayed response on January 6.

State Variations

The USCP is exclusively a federal legislative branch agency. State capitols have their own capitol police or security forces, but they operate independently under state authority.

Implementing Regulations

Note: The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is a legislative branch law enforcement agency. Its primary authority comes from 2 USC §§ 1901–1981 and the Capitol Police Act. USCP operational policies are internal directives, not published in the CFR.

• 2 USC §§ 1961–1969 — Capitol Police Board authority over security operations

Pending Legislation

Capitol Police authorization and funding appears in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. Security reform measures following January 6, 2021, have been considered but no standalone reform bills are pending in the 119th Congress.

Recent Developments

The USCP has undergone its most significant transformation since its founding in the wake of January 6. The force has grown by several hundred officers, intelligence capabilities have been substantially expanded, and coordination with federal and D.C. law enforcement has improved. Officer recruitment and retention remain challenges — the USCP has had difficulty filling authorized positions, partly due to the trauma of January 6 and competition with other federal law enforcement agencies for recruits. The USCP has expanded its presence beyond the Capitol complex, opening regional field offices to investigate threats against members of Congress across the country.

• January 6 pardons and USCP officer response (2025): Trump's Day-1 executive order granting clemency to approximately 1,500 January 6 defendants — including those convicted of violent assaults on USCP officers — generated significant backlash from Capitol Police officers who testified before the January 6 Select Committee. USCP officer unions and individual officers publicly expressed opposition to the pardons. Several officers described the pardons as deeply demoralizing and a betrayal of those who were injured defending the Capitol. The pardons covered individuals convicted under charges including assaulting law enforcement, which USCP officers found particularly difficult.
• Congressional threat levels: The USCP's protective intelligence division has documented sustained elevated threat levels against members of Congress. Threats against lawmakers increased dramatically after January 6 and have remained high through 2025. The USCP's regional field offices — opened to investigate threats in members' home states — have handled thousands of credible threat referrals annually. The agency has also expanded its family member protection details for members facing specific threats.
• USCP budget and staffing (2026): After January 6, Congress approved emergency supplemental funding and increased USCP's authorized strength. The department reached approximately 2,400 officers by 2025. DOGE reviews of Congress's own operations have been limited by separation of powers — the Capitol Police is under congressional, not executive, authority. The USCP budget ($700M+) is appropriated in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill rather than DHS, insulating it from executive branch restructuring efforts.
• Capitol security infrastructure: Major physical security improvements to the Capitol complex — perimeter fencing, vehicle barriers, underground tunnel access, enhanced surveillance systems — have been implemented since January 6. Temporary outer-perimeter fencing installed after January 6 was removed, but permanent security barriers have been upgraded. The Capitol complex's security design must balance public access (it is a public building) with hardened perimeter security, a tension that has defined post-J6 infrastructure investment decisions.