---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 1361"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "1361"
heading: "Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/1361"
units:
  - "Part IV — Jurisdiction and Venue"
  - "Chapter 85 — District Courts; Jurisdiction"
---

# §1361. Action to compel an officer of the United States to perform his duty


The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any action in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 87–748, § 1(a), Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 744.)