Summary
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. Assistant United States Attorney's (AUSA) assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute a broad range of U.S. Code violations in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Duties
The Criminal Division is responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal cases in the U.S. District Court. Located in the nation's capitol. The division has jurisdiction for a broad range of consequential cases, including violent crime, child exploitation, human trafficking, drug trafficking, fraud, government corruption, cybercrime, terrorism, sanctions violations, espionage, and other threats to D.C. and the nation. The Criminal Division is accepting applications for attorneys to serve as line and supervisory AUSAs in the Criminal Division. The Asset Forfeiture Unit utilizes criminal, civil, and administrative tools to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used in or acquired through illegal activities and to recover assets that may be used to compensate victims. The caseload involves matters across all criminal sections, whether in partnership with a criminal AUSA or as an independent matter. The Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking (CEHT) section handles a broad range of matters related to internet-based crimes against children as well as human trafficking prosecutions. CEHT primarily investigates cases involving the production of and trafficking in child pornography, commercial sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and interstate domestic violence and stalking offenses. CEHT AUSAs are often involved in interviewing victims of sexual abuse or trafficking, coordinating with law enforcement agents to charge and arrest targets, and drafting search warrants for electronic evidence. The Federal Major Crimes (FMC) section prosecutes a range of federal crimes, with a focus on high-tempo arrest-driven prosecutions or reactive investigations. FMC prosecutes the prohibited possession of firearms and controlled substances, violent crime sprees and crews, robberies, destruction of government property, and other federal crimes in the District of Columbia. As their experience increases, FMC AUSAs have the opportunity to partner with and support AUSAs in other sections in the Criminal Division. The Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights (FPCCR) section handles complex and challenging prosecutions intended to address a range of white-collar crimes. FPCCR prosecutes fraud offenses against government agencies, including health-care fraud, tax fraud, and federal program fraud; frauds targeting businesses, non-profits, and social institutions; money laundering networks perpetrating frauds against financial institutions and online through cryptocurrencies; and cyber-enabled frauds (such as ransomware) and crimes (such as hacking to steal funds/crypto and information). FPCCR prosecutes public corruption offenses, such as bribery; conflicts of interest; theft of government funds; election crimes; and efforts to obstruct or interfere with the lawful functioning of Congress, the Judiciary, and Executive Branch. This section also prosecutes civil rights offenses, such as crimes based on protected characteristics. The National Security Section (NSS) investigates and prosecutes criminal activity that threatens our nation's security, including: international and domestic terrorism; hostage-takings and other violence against Americans outside the U.S.; export control and sanctions violations; espionage, malign foreign influence, and transnational repression; unauthorized retention or disclosure of classified information and national defense information; and cyber offenses targeted at the U.S. government or perpetrated by those connected to state actors or terrorist organizations. The section is looking for applicants who are willing and able to handle the breadth of the section's practice; particular preference will be given to those applicants who have demonstrated an interest and skill in investigations involving cryptocurrency, cyber crimes, or criminal or civil forfeiture. The Violent Crime and Narcotic Trafficking (VCNT) section disrupts and dismantles criminal networks engaged in serious violence and large-scale firearms and drug trafficking. VCNT places an emphasis on proactive, intelligence-driven, long- and medium-term criminal investigations, and our prosecutions focus on violent street crews, transnational criminal organizations, and the district's drivers of violence. VCNT's prosecutions target everything from criminal street gangs to international drug cartels engaged in a broad range of federal offenses, including firearms and narcotics conspiracies, interstate robbery conspiracies, RICO and VICAR, darknet market drug trafficking and money laundering, and Continuing Criminal Enterprises. VCNT AUSAs advise and coordinate with law enforcement agencies on investigative steps and sequencing; draft search warrants and other legal process; present cases to the federal grand jury; brief and handle detention hearings and other hearings in court; and prosecute cases through trial. Responsibilities and assignments will increase as your training and experience progress.
Requirements
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Failure to obtain a favorable adjudication from the background investigation process could result in your removal from federal service. Once you have been converted to a permanent position, you will be subject to a two-year probationary period. Failure to successfully perform during this probationary period could result in your removal from federal service. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location. USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information. Travel: Occasional travel may be required.
Education
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree
How you will be evaluated
Evaluation Method: This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applicant lists will be pulled on November 1, 2026 and on the 1st of every month until the closing date. Positions are open until filled, but no later than September 30, 2027. Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview. The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more). Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.