diff --git a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6744444570
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController.js
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+const { logger, signPayload } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
+const { generate2FATempToken } = require('~/server/services/twoFactorService');
+const { setAuthTokens } = require('~/server/services/AuthService');
+
+/**
+ * Generates admin-specific JWT token with isAdmin claim
+ * @param {Object} user - User object from database
+ * @returns {Promise<string>} - JWT token
+ */
+const generateAdminToken = async (user) => {
+  if (!user) {
+    throw new Error('No user provided');
+  }
+
+  let expires = 1000 * 60 * 15; // 15 minutes default
+
+  if (process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY !== undefined && process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY !== '') {
+    try {
+      const evaluated = eval(process.env.SESSION_EXPIRY);
+      if (evaluated) {
+        expires = evaluated;
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.warn('Invalid SESSION_EXPIRY expression, using default:', error);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return await signPayload({
+    payload: {
+      id: user._id,
+      username: user.username,
+      provider: user.provider,
+      email: user.email,
+      isAdmin: true, // Admin-specific claim
+    },
+    secret: process.env.JWT_SECRET,
+    expirationTime: expires / 1000,
+  });
+};
+
+/**
+ * Admin login controller - handles authentication for admin users
+ * Returns admin-specific JWT with isAdmin claim
+ */
+const adminLoginController = async (req, res) => {
+  try {
+    if (!req.user) {
+      return res.status(400).json({ message: 'Invalid credentials' });
+    }
+
+    // User role validation is already done in requireAdminAuth middleware
+
+    // Handle 2FA if enabled
+    if (req.user.twoFactorEnabled) {
+      const tempToken = generate2FATempToken(req.user._id);
+      return res.status(200).json({ twoFAPending: true, tempToken });
+    }
+
+    const { password: _p, totpSecret: _t, __v, ...user } = req.user;
+    user.id = user._id.toString();
+
+    // Generate admin-specific token
+    const token = await generateAdminToken(req.user);
+
+    // Set standard auth cookies (refreshToken, etc.)
+    await setAuthTokens(req.user._id, res);
+
+    return res.status(200).send({ token, user, isAdmin: true });
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.error('[adminLoginController]', err);
+    return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Something went wrong' });
+  }
+};
+
+module.exports = {
+  adminLoginController,
+};
diff --git a/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ff835316a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController.js
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
+const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+
+/**
+ * Admin token verification controller
+ * Verifies JWT token and returns user data if valid and has admin role
+ * Used by admin panel to verify authentication status
+ */
+const adminVerifyController = async (req, res) => {
+  try {
+    // User is already authenticated via requireAdminJwtAuth middleware
+    if (!req.user) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' });
+    }
+
+    // Double-check admin role (redundant but ensures security)
+    if (!req.user.role || req.user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
+      logger.warn('[adminVerifyController] Non-admin user attempting to verify:', req.user.email);
+      return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
+    }
+
+    // Return user data without sensitive fields
+    const { password: _p, totpSecret: _t, __v, ...user } = req.user;
+    user.id = user._id.toString();
+
+    return res.status(200).json({
+      valid: true,
+      user,
+      isAdmin: true,
+    });
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.error('[adminVerifyController]', err);
+    return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Something went wrong' });
+  }
+};
+
+module.exports = {
+  adminVerifyController,
+};
diff --git a/api/server/index.js b/api/server/index.js
index e458b0349e..43ab763a97 100644
--- a/api/server/index.js
+++ b/api/server/index.js
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ const startServer = async () => {
   app.use('/oauth', routes.oauth);
   /* API Endpoints */
   app.use('/api/auth', routes.auth);
+  app.use('/api/admin', routes.adminAuth);
   app.use('/api/actions', routes.actions);
   app.use('/api/keys', routes.keys);
   app.use('/api/user', routes.user);
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/index.js b/api/server/middleware/index.js
index 55ee465674..7d8e000e18 100644
--- a/api/server/middleware/index.js
+++ b/api/server/middleware/index.js
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 const validatePasswordReset = require('./validatePasswordReset');
 const validateRegistration = require('./validateRegistration');
 const buildEndpointOption = require('./buildEndpointOption');
+const requireAdminJwtAuth = require('./requireAdminJwtAuth');
 const validateMessageReq = require('./validateMessageReq');
 const checkDomainAllowed = require('./checkDomainAllowed');
 const concurrentLimiter = require('./concurrentLimiter');
 const validateEndpoint = require('./validateEndpoint');
 const requireLocalAuth = require('./requireLocalAuth');
 const canDeleteAccount = require('./canDeleteAccount');
+const requireAdminAuth = require('./requireAdminAuth');
 const accessResources = require('./accessResources');
 const requireLdapAuth = require('./requireLdapAuth');
 const abortMiddleware = require('./abortMiddleware');
@@ -38,6 +40,8 @@ module.exports = {
   moderateText,
   validateModel,
   requireJwtAuth,
+  requireAdminAuth,
+  requireAdminJwtAuth,
   checkInviteUser,
   requireLdapAuth,
   requireLocalAuth,
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03e2b2cf17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminAuth.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+const passport = require('passport');
+const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
+const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+
+/**
+ * Middleware for admin authentication using local strategy
+ * Validates credentials and ensures user has admin role
+ */
+const requireAdminAuth = (req, res, next) => {
+  passport.authenticate('local', (err, user, info) => {
+    if (err) {
+      logger.error('[requireAdminAuth] Error at passport.authenticate:', err);
+      return next(err);
+    }
+    if (!user) {
+      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: No user');
+      return res.status(404).send(info);
+    }
+    if (info && info.message) {
+      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: ' + info.message);
+      return res.status(422).send({ message: info.message });
+    }
+
+    // Check if user has admin role
+    if (!user.role || user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
+      logger.debug('[requireAdminAuth] Error: User is not an admin');
+      return res.status(403).send({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
+    }
+
+    req.user = user;
+    next();
+  })(req, res, next);
+};
+
+module.exports = requireAdminAuth;
diff --git a/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..346799b933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/middleware/requireAdminJwtAuth.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+const cookies = require('cookie');
+const passport = require('passport');
+const { isEnabled } = require('@librechat/api');
+const { logger } = require('@librechat/data-schemas');
+const { SystemRoles } = require('librechat-data-provider');
+
+/**
+ * Custom Middleware to handle JWT authentication for admin endpoints
+ * Validates JWT token and ensures user has admin role
+ */
+const requireAdminJwtAuth = (req, res, next) => {
+  // Check if token provider is specified in cookies
+  const cookieHeader = req.headers.cookie;
+  const tokenProvider = cookieHeader ? cookies.parse(cookieHeader).token_provider : null;
+
+  // Use OpenID authentication if token provider is OpenID and OPENID_REUSE_TOKENS is enabled
+  const authStrategy =
+    tokenProvider === 'openid' && isEnabled(process.env.OPENID_REUSE_TOKENS) ? 'openidJwt' : 'jwt';
+
+  passport.authenticate(authStrategy, { session: false }, (err, user, _info) => {
+    if (err) {
+      logger.error('[requireAdminJwtAuth] Authentication error:', err);
+      return res.status(500).json({ message: 'Authentication error' });
+    }
+
+    if (!user) {
+      logger.debug('[requireAdminJwtAuth] No user found');
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' });
+    }
+
+    // Check if user has admin role
+    if (!user.role || user.role !== SystemRoles.ADMIN) {
+      logger.debug('[requireAdminJwtAuth] User is not an admin:', user.email);
+      return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied: Admin privileges required' });
+    }
+
+    req.user = user;
+    next();
+  })(req, res, next);
+};
+
+module.exports = requireAdminJwtAuth;
diff --git a/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js b/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..003784635a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/server/routes/admin/auth.js
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+const express = require('express');
+const { adminVerifyController } = require('~/server/controllers/auth/AdminVerifyController');
+const { adminLoginController } = require('~/server/controllers/auth/AdminLoginController');
+const middleware = require('~/server/middleware');
+
+const router = express.Router();
+
+// Admin local authentication route
+router.post(
+  '/login/local',
+  middleware.logHeaders,
+  middleware.loginLimiter,
+  middleware.checkBan,
+  middleware.requireAdminAuth, // Uses local auth strategy + admin role validation
+  adminLoginController,
+);
+
+// Admin token verification endpoint
+router.get(
+  '/verify',
+  middleware.requireAdminJwtAuth, // Validates JWT + admin role
+  adminVerifyController,
+);
+
+// TODO: Future OAuth/OpenID routes will be added here
+// router.get('/auth/openid', ...);
+// router.get('/auth/openid/callback', ...);
+
+module.exports = router;
diff --git a/api/server/routes/index.js b/api/server/routes/index.js
index adaca3859a..6b5c1b6c2f 100644
--- a/api/server/routes/index.js
+++ b/api/server/routes/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const accessPermissions = require('./accessPermissions');
 const assistants = require('./assistants');
 const categories = require('./categories');
+const adminAuth = require('./admin/auth');
 const tokenizer = require('./tokenizer');
 const endpoints = require('./endpoints');
 const staticRoute = require('./static');
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ module.exports = {
   mcp,
   edit,
   auth,
+  adminAuth,
   keys,
   user,
   tags,