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Visiting USDA Headquarters Complex

Welcome to the United States Department of Agriculture. USDA Headquarters is located at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20250.

  • Visitors arriving at the Whitten Building must enter through the main doors located from Jefferson Avenue.
  • Visitors arriving at the South Building must enter through Wing 3 located from Independence Avenue.
  • Visitors arriving at the Yates Building must enter through the main door located off 14th Street.
  • Visitors arriving at the George Washington Carver Center must enter through the main door from the parking lot.
     

Building Access/ Visitor Management System

The Security Staff provides building access services to USDA employees and visitors. It includes all aspects of compliance with physical security laws and procedures. Security officers are posted strategically throughout the HQ complex to control access, report incidents and suspicious activity and respond to emergencies.

If you have a large group of visitors or a foreign delegation, you must provide a complete list of names,  date of your visit, and approximate arrival time to the Security Services Division (SSD) at securityservicehelp@usda.gov. Your party must be met at the building entrance by a USDA employee and escorted at all times.
 

Visitor Management

We manage our visitors using an Automated Visitor Management System (VMS) that supports the Headquarters Complex and the George Washington Carver Center (GWCC). Once a visitor has been signed in through the Visitor Management System, an email notification will be sent to the host employee, as well as a phone call from the Security Officer notifying them of the visitor’s arrival and location.  Visitors must be escorted at all times while in the facility.
 

Access requirements
 

USDA Employees:

  1. Must have an issued USDA Site badge or HSPD-12 LincPass
  2. For lost/stolen/expired badges/badges left at home
    • you must have a valid ID
    • You must have a POC
    • Must have appointment email from badging office
    • Must be issued and wear an E-badge

 

New USDA Employees/Contractors:

  1. Must have a valid identification and reason for visiting.
  2. Must be signed in at Wing 3 visitors’ entrance.
  3. Must have a POC/escort.
  4. Must have appointment email from badging office.
  5. Must be issued and wear a V-badge.

 

Visitors:

  1. Must have a valid identification and reason for visiting.
  2. Must be signed in with security at the designated visitors’ entrance.
  3. Must have a POC/escort.
  4. Must be issued and wear a V-badge.

 

Location: USDA Headquarters Building, Wing 3: 1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250
Hours: Monday - Friday 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (excluding Federal Government holidays)
Contact: securityservicehelp@usda.gov  (202) 720-6270

HSPD-12 Badging Office: Room 1408, South building / (202) 690-8000 or (202) 720-2744
 

Getting Around

Living and working in the nation’s capital is exciting. Many of our buildings are located in beautiful, historic areas and all are easily accessible by all forms of commuting. Whether you walk, ride Metro, bike or drive to work, here is some information that will help get you there: