Federal agencies participate in the CESU Network through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and by joining individual CESUs. Some federal agencies have duty-stationed employees at CESUs. The CESU Network is coordinated by a CESU Council that includes representatives of the federal agency partners.

The thirteen federal agencies currently participating in the CESU Network:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Department of Defense
• Minerals Management Service
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• National Park Service
• US Corps of Army Engineers--Civil Works
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• US Geological Survey
• USDA Agricultural Research Service
• USDA Forest Service
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Environmental Protection Agency*
• Department of Energy*