Number: RS22706
Title: The Federal Protective Service and Contract Security Guards: A Statutory History and Current Status
Authors: Shawn Reese, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: The Federal Protective Service (FPS) - within U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - is responsible for protecting federal government property, personnel, visitors, and customers, including property leased by the General Services Administration (GSA). FPS currently employs over 15,000 contract security guards to protect federal property. DHS intends, according to its FY2009 budget justification, to continue the use of contract security guards to focus FPS activities on maintaining security policy and standards, conducting building security assessments, and monitoring federal agency compliance with security standards. P.L. 110-329 (the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009) includes provisions on FPS maintaining a certain number of police officers. Congress also enacted P.L. 110-356 (the Federal Protective Service Guard Contracting Reform Act of 2008) which addresses the issue of awarding federal contracts to privately owned contract security guard businesses.
Pages: 5
Date: October 14, 2008