Reserving the right to be wrong, as I understand the federal system, before one can be issued a firearm to carry during the course of the work they do, they must be classified differently by the system. In other words, they are administrative clerks and do not have even the possibility of getting guns. For that to happen, they must be reclassified as a type of federal law enforcement. With that reclassification comes LEO-type responsibilities and constitutional requirements.

As it is, the administrative search is allowed because it is administrative. Make them law enforcement and the procedures must be realigned to comply with the requirements of law enforcement duties. The carrying of a weapon implies the authority to retain. It would be quite stupid if it did not. "Stop or I'll shoot!" "Kiss my butt moron, you can not detain me." See, quite ridiculous.

Now, if they can get guns without becoming "law enforcement," the system is screwed up more that I can imagine.