---
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"
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](/usc/28/451.md) 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](/usc/28/451.md) thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff.


## Source credit

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