Understanding the Role of a Federal Law Enforcement Agent

According to the FBI’s Crime in the Nation Statistics , violent crime dropped by 3% between 2022 and 2023, with an 11.6% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter, a 2.8% decrease in aggravated assault, and a 0.3% decrease in robbery.

Throughout 2023, 94,411 suspects were arrested by federal law enforcement , including 25,110 drug-related arrests made by the DEA. Federal law enforcement agents play a vital role each year in working to prevent and stop crime, and their impact is clear by the drop in violent crime in recent years. With a bachelor’s degree in security studies , students can prepare to protect the U.S. both within its borders and abroad.

What Is a Federal Law Enforcement Agent?

A federal law enforcement agent works for the federal government to protect the country from internal and external threats, monitor and prevent criminal activity, and stop unauthorized individuals and goods from entering the United States.

Depending on the agency in which the federal law enforcement agent works, they take on different responsibilities, but they may work in combating interstate crime, terrorism, illegal drug smuggling, or other concerns to U.S. safety. They are often considered a first line of defense, facing dangerous challenges like protecting world leaders or infiltrating a criminal organization.

Federal Law Enforcement Agent Job Descriptions

There are over 80 federal law enforcement agencies in the United States. Federal law enforcement agents assume various responsibilities depending on their agency or assignment. Federal law enforcement agencies and their agents’ duties include the following:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Federal law enforcement agents within the FBI collaborate with other agents and intelligence officers to collect intelligence; analyze risks associated with potential threats; and infiltrate and dismantle terrorist organizations, drug rings, and other entities that endanger national security.

• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA): Agents in the DEA work to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into and throughout the United States, as well as in other countries that may impact the United States.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Agents in the CBP monitor the U.S.’s northern and southern borders, as well as other entry points into the U.S., for illegal activity.

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF): Agents in the ATF enforce federal laws connected to the firearms, tobacco, and explosives industries.

• U.S. Secret Service: In addition to protecting the President, agents in the Secret Service also investigate threats of terrorism, counterfeiting attempts, and fraud.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): Agents at the FWS track poachers and provide law enforcement services to park visitors.

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Protects America through criminal investigations and enforces immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety.

How to Become a Federal Law Enforcement Agent

Federal law enforcement agents often have to follow a path similar to other types of law enforcement officers, like police officers. However, where they differ is that federal law enforcement agents also need to understand topics tied to their agency, as well as national and international security.

Required Education and Experience

A federal law enforcement agent is generally expected to have a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the agency in which they wish to work or applicable to the fields of national or international security. Such degree programs include security studies , public safety, or political administration.

Additional requirements depend on the agency, which may include a particular exam, completion of a training academy, or specific characteristics, such as their age at the time of their appointment. They may also be required to have prior experience in law enforcement or military experience.

A federal law enforcement agent who wants to climb the ranks in their agency may also find it helpful to earn a master’s degree in a field related to their agency, such as a degree in environmental science, conservation, or environmental law for federal law enforcement agents working at the FWS.

Necessary Skills

Skills necessary to thrive as a federal law enforcement agent include the following:

• Communication: Federal law enforcement agents work with officers and agents across different departments and agencies, which is why they need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Leadership: Particularly in high-pressure situations, federal law enforcement officers need to be able to motivate their team and provide a leader for the public to look to guide them.

• Composure: Federal law enforcement officers are often on the front lines of defense and must be composed in the face of potential danger.

• Physical strength and stamina: In order to pursue and apprehend individuals posing threats, a federal law enforcement agent may need to be strong and have good stamina.

• Empathy: As federal law enforcement agents come across people from all walks of life who may be facing difficult circumstances, it’s essential that they are empathetic.

Career Outlook for Federal Law Enforcement Agents

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks federal law enforcement agents under the category of police and detectives . According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a police officer or detective working in the government was about $77,540, as of May 2024.

The BLS expects this career to increase in the number of available positions, with a projected 3 percent growth rate between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as the average growth rate for all careers in the U.S.

Become a Federal Law Enforcement Agent With East Carolina University®

Federal law enforcement agents may work with a number of different departments within the U.S. government, but agents in any of these departments must all understand national and international security. They must be able to transform collected intelligence into a strategic plan to prevent threats to the safety and security of the U.S. population.

With the online Bachelor of Science in Security Studies Flight Path program from East Carolina University, students can prepare for a career as a federal law enforcement agent by learning to mitigate security risks and create and implement comprehensive solutions. Graduates come away with a deep understanding of national and international security challenges and how to address them, readying them for positions with the FBI, Secret Service, and any of the U.S.’s many law enforcement agencies.

Become a leader in federal law enforcement with ECU.

Recommended Readings

4 International Security Careers to Consider

Understanding the Role of a Foreign Service Officer

Career Road Map for Security Studies Degree Graduates

Sources:

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Federal Justice Statistics, 2023

Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

EBSCO, Federal Law Enforcement Agent

FBI News, “FBI Releases 2023 Crime in the Nation Statistics”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Police and Detectives