Federal Register API MCP Server for Windsurf 4 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect Federal Register API through Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool. ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.
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{
"mcpServers": {
"federal-register-api": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About Federal Register API MCP Server
Empower your AI agent to orchestrate your entire public policy research and document auditing workflow with the Federal Register API, the authoritative source for United States government rules and notices. By connecting the Federal Register to your agent, you transform complex administrative searches into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly retrieve active document details, audit agency publications, and query specific rule metadata without you ever touching a government portal. Whether you are conducting regulatory research or managing regional policy constraints, your agent acts as a real-time administrative consultant, ensuring your data is always verified and precise.
Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple Federal Register API tool calls autonomously. query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 4 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.
What you can do
- Document Auditing — Search for thousands of public documents and rules by keyword and retrieve detailed metadata, including publication dates and agencies.
- Agency Oversight — Audit all US government agencies that publish in the Federal Register to understand the administrative reach of public sector rules instantly.
- Rule Discovery — Query specific document numbers to assist in deep-dive regulatory and temporal classification.
- Metadata Intelligence — Retrieve unique document identifiers and HTML links to assist in professional policy auditing.
- Operational Monitoring — Check API status to ensure your document research workflow is always operational.
The Federal Register API MCP Server exposes 4 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect Federal Register API to Windsurf via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the Federal Register API MCP Server with Windsurf.
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
Start using Federal Register API
Open Cascade and ask: "Using Federal Register API, help me...". 4 tools available
Why Use Windsurf with the Federal Register API MCP Server
Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with Federal Register API through the Model Context Protocol.
Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention
Purpose-built for agentic workflows. Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively
JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 4 tools are immediately available
Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts
Federal Register API + Windsurf Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the Federal Register API MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from Federal Register API and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses
Live debugging: query Federal Register API tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor
Documentation generation: pull schema information from Federal Register API and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically
Rapid prototyping: combine Federal Register API data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes
Federal Register API MCP Tools for Windsurf (4)
These 4 tools become available when you connect Federal Register API to Windsurf via MCP:
check_api_status
Check if the Federal Register service is operational
get_federal_document_details
Get full metadata and HTML links for a specific federal document
list_federal_agencies
List all government agencies that publish in the Federal Register
search_federal_documents
Search for public documents and rules in the Federal Register
Example Prompts for Federal Register API in Windsurf
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with Federal Register API immediately.
"Search for documents about 'environmental protection' in the Federal Register."
"Show details for Federal Register document '2023-00001'."
"List all agencies that publish in the Federal Register."
Troubleshooting Federal Register API MCP Server with Windsurf
Common issues when connecting Federal Register API to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not connecting
Federal Register API + Windsurf FAQ
Common questions about integrating Federal Register API MCP Server with Windsurf.
How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?
mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?
Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?
mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.Connect Federal Register API with your favorite client
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Connect Federal Register API to Windsurf
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 4 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.