Federal law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the U.S. are generally required to retire at age 57 or as soon as they complete 20 years of service if they are already over 57. This applies to federal employees under both FERS and CSRS, though exceptions can be made by agency heads to extend this to age 60.

Key details regarding mandatory retirement:

Maximum Entry Age: Individuals must generally be hired before their 37th birthday to ensure they can achieve 20 years of service by 57.

Exceptions: If an officer hits 57 before completing 20 years of service, they can work until the end of the month in which they finish 20 years of service, with a maximum possible extension up to age 60, often requiring agency approval.

Federal Eligibility: LEOs are eligible for enhanced (full) retirement benefits at age 50 with 20 years of service, or at any age with 25 years of service.

Non-Federal Roles: State and local law enforcement agencies vary, but many follow similar structures for public safety pensions, though specific mandatory retirement ages are often set by local laws, not federal statute