# 119-hr-2578: Drug Testing for Special Government Employees Act

119-hr-2578, Drug Testing for Special Government Employees Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2578
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-2578
- Congress: 119
- Title: Drug Testing for Special Government Employees Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-01
- Sponsor: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Mandatory drug testing for special Government employees in sensitive roles.** This bill would require pre-service tests and a random testing program for special Government employees who hold or perform sensitive duties. Positive tests would block appointment or remove current SGEs and carry a minimum 12-month ineligibility. - Nominees for special Government employee roles would need a drug test before their first day, and a positive result would make them ineligible for appointment for at least 12 months. - Existing SGEs in sensitive positions would be entered into a random drug testing program within 90 days after enactment, and a positive test would remove them from civil service and bar reappointment for at least 12 months. - Agency heads would implement testing under the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs across agencies including the Executive Office of the President and the Office of Management and Budget. "Sensitive position" covers access to classified information and roles that affect safety, security, national security, or mission-critical duties.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Penalties for special Government employees who test positive: cost, high. If enacted, a positive pre‑service test would make a person ineligible for appointment as a special Government employee for at least 12 months. The 12 months would start when the agency head decides the result was positive. For current special Government employees, a positive random test would requ…
- New drug tests for special Government employees: cost, low. This bill would require drug tests for special Government employees. Before the first day, proposed hires would take a test under federal workplace drug‑testing guidelines. Current special Government employees in sensitive jobs would enter random testing within 90 days of enactment. Agency heads wo…
- Who is covered: agencies and sensitive jobs: mixed, low. This bill would define who is covered. "Agency" would follow 5 U.S.C. 551 and include the Executive Office of the President and OMB. "Sensitive position" would include jobs with classified access or duties affecting safety or national security, including mission‑critical roles. It would adopt exist…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act
- 119-hr-4895: Afghan Adjustment Act
- 119-hr-3644: Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-2578 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2578)

## Related
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [119-hr-4895: Afghan Adjustment Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4895)
- [119-hr-3644: Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3644)
- [119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2045)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2578 (as of 2026-04-21).