Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate

Stored: Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate

Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Type:	Congressional Office
Parent organization:	Senate
Top organization:	Congress
Employees:	1000
Executive:	Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper
Budget:
Address:	Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20510
Website:	https://www.senate.gov/reference/office/sergeant_at_arms.htm
Creation Legislation:	Senate Resolution, April 7, 1789
Wikipedia:	Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate

Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate

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Mission
To serve as the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the U.S. Senate, ensuring security, order, and operational support for senators, staff, and visitors while managing a wide array of administrative and technological services.

Services
Security and Law Enforcement; Protocol Coordination; IT and Communications Support; Administrative Services

Regulations
Title 2 U.S.C. § 6617

Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate is the highest-ranking federal law enforcement officer of the Senate, elected by senators since April 7, 1789, responsible for security in the Capitol’s Senate wing, protocol duties like escorting dignitaries, and managing nearly 1,000 staff to support Senate operations.

Official Site

Mission

The Sergeant at Arms (SAA) aims to maintain a secure and functional Senate environment by enforcing rules, protecting members, and overseeing the Capitol’s Senate side. It coordinates official events, manages technology and support services, and ensures legislative continuity, serving all senators impartially despite being selected by the majority party.

Parent organization

The SAA operates under the United States Senate, within the United States Congress, as an elected office accountable directly to the Senate body for its law enforcement and administrative roles.

Legislation

The office was established by a Senate Resolution on April 7, 1789, appointing the first Doorkeeper, James Mathers, during the 1st Congress, with the title “Sergeant at Arms” added in 1798; its law enforcement authority is codified in Title 2 U.S.C. § 6617 (2000).

Partners

U.S. Capitol Police for security oversight via the Capitol Police Board
House Sergeant at Arms for joint protocol duties
Architect of the Capitol for facility management

Number of employees

The SAA employs just under 1,000 full-time staff as of 2025, per Senate estimates, including security personnel, IT specialists, and administrative support, with numbers varying slightly by congressional needs.

Organization structure

The SAA is structured to handle security, protocol, and support services:

Leader

The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper is currently Karen H. Gibson, elected in March 2021, leading the office with a Deputy (Kelly Fado) and Chief of Staff (Jennifer Hemingway) as of 2025.

Divisions

The divisions include:

Security Operations for Capitol and Senate building protection.
Protocol Services for official events and processions.
Technology and Support Services for IT, media, and administrative needs.

List of programs

Senate Cybersecurity Program
Capitol Telephone Exchange (24/7 operator services)
Senate Page Program (shared with Secretary of the Senate)

Last total enacted budget

The SAA’s specific budget is not publicly isolated; it’s funded within the Senate’s FY 2024 budget of $1.1 billion, supporting staff, security, and services like broadcasting and IT, with no exact figure disclosed.

Staff

The SAA’s nearly 1,000 staff include law enforcement officers, doorkeepers, IT professionals, media specialists, and administrative personnel, managed from the Postal Square Building, with some stationed at the Capitol for floor and gallery duties.

Funding

Since 1789, the SAA has been funded through Senate appropriations, with FY 2024’s $1.1 billion budget covering its operations, supplemented by shared Capitol Police Board resources.

Services provided

The SAA secures the Senate wing and buildings, escorts dignitaries (e.g., during inaugurations), manages IT and Senate broadcasts, provides printing and mailing services, oversees pages, and can compel senator attendance or arrest rule violators, supporting daily operations and major events like the State of the Union.

Regulations overseen

The SAA enforces Senate rules under Title 2 U.S.C. § 6617, including arrest powers and quorum enforcement, and regulates the Senate wing per Committee on Rules and Administration directives, but does not create laws.

Headquarters address

Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20510

History

Created on April 7, 1789, as the Doorkeeper to address quorum issues in the 1st Congress, the title Sergeant at Arms was added in 1798 after empowering James Mathers to compel attendance during William Blount’s impeachment. It evolved from securing closed sessions to managing public galleries (1795), supervising pages (1829), and overseeing IT and security post-20th century, with notable transitions like Karen Gibson’s 2021 election as the first woman-led team.

External links

References