Service upon the United States requires: (1) service upon the United States Attorney in the manner specified by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A); and (2) “by also sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General of the United States at Washington, District of Columbia.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(B).

The Attorney General has designated the Assistant Attorney General for Administration, Justice Management Division, to accept service of summonses and complaints for him/her. See 28 C.F.R. § 0.77(j). United States Attorneys have no authority to accept service on behalf of the Attorney General. In any action attacking the validity of an order of an officer or agency of the United States not made a party to the suit, service must be made "by also sending a copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified mail to the officer or agency." Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(C).

[Updated April 2018]