When not on an overseas assignment, agents serve at DSS headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, or in one of the 29 field offices nationwide. DSS agents are uniquely required to serve multiple-year tours abroad as a condition of employment. federal law enforcement agents are members of the Federal Civil Service, the majority of DSS special agents are both Foreign Service specialists and law enforcement officers. The agency employs approximately 2,400 special agents, sometimes referred to as "DS Agents" or "DSS Agents." DSS agents are federal agents with the power to arrest, carry firearms, serve arrest warrants, and perform other law enforcement activities.
While best known for its security role, DSS is a full fledged law enforcement agency that conducts international criminal investigations, threat analysis, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, security technology, and cybersecurity.
The agency's activities include counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and criminal investigations.
It is responsible primarily for protecting diplomatic assets, personnel, and information, and combating visa and passport fraud. The United States Diplomatic Security Service ( DSS or DS) is the federal law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Visa fraud, passport fraud, protection of the Secretary of State, visiting foreign dignitaries, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Carlos Matus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director.