PearlJammer

Hi,

I am interning for a congressman in Washington D.C. this summer for a few months. I'm not a regular drug user, but last night I smoked weed with a couple of close friends. I am now concerned that I may be drug tested when I get to Washington in a couple of days. I realize my judgement here was very bad, but what is the likelihood that I will be tested? Can anyone here who has interned for a congressman/senator in the past give me some insight here? I think the chances that I will be tested are slim since I wasn't given any pre-employment test, nor did the person who hired me mention anything about drug testing. Thank you for your time.

Josh

sky

Working for the government means that you will be under the constant threat of drug screenings. Usually, there is also a pre-employment drug screening. I'm not sure why you weren't given one.

While I haven't worked for any government office, I have worked for government contractors. As such, there are strict rules that anyone working for the government or a contractor be regularly screened for drugs. Usually this meant pre-employment screening along with random screenings. It's part of the deal with working for the gov't.

tlaktan

There are no drug tests for internships in the House of Representatives or the Senate. I've interned with the House for over a year. While it is certainly possible one could request a test due to poor performance at the workplace, unusual behavior, etc., there's no preliminary screening.

texaspatriot

To your knowledge, do you suppose this would hold true today for an internship at a Congressman's local office (not in DC) Thank you greatly for replying.

soccerguy315

if there is a drug policy, it should be made very clear ahead of time.

I don't know that the drug testing is specific to the government, but might instead be tied to potential clearance issues.

GolfFather

This is an ancient thread but ...

Permanent members of congressional staffs as well as interns are subject to random drug testing.

Here is one posting:

Internship Opportunities

Certainly, in the Executive Branch, all interns serving in positions that require a clearance for access to information classified as "Secret" or above are subject to random employee drug testing.

father91

"random" : Yes
"pre-employment" : No (even for clearance)

My info relates to internships only

polarscribe

In my agency, pre-employment screening is generally reserved for positions related to law enforcement duties only.

soccergurl7988

I was pre-employment drug tested based upon my level of security clearance

amplifiar842

Some congressional offices state specific policies about drug tests on their websites, but most do not bother with any of it. It's an expense to their office to do testing. Many offices do their own security or communications screenings just to make sure they're not picking up someone who could make them look bad, but most don't bother at all.