Reading Room Document

Whether the Administrator of General Services has the authority to utilize State and local law‐enforcement personnel to enforce federal law

The document is a response to a letter requesting the views on whether the Administrator of General Services has the authority to use state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce federal law, prevent breaches of the peace, and suppress unlawful assemblies on property under exclusive federal jurisdiction. The conclusion reached in the document is that the General Services Administrator does have the necessary authority to utilize state and local law enforcement agencies for these purposes. The document also presents questions regarding the interpretation of the statute and the extent of authority granted to the General Services Administration, as well as the historical context of state and local law enforcement officers enforcing federal laws on federal property.

May 21, 1965