U.S. Begins Random Drug Testing of Civilian Workers in Safety Jobs

The Transportation Department began its controversial random testing of employees for drugs Thursday as about 50 workers in safety related jobs provided urine samples, officials said.

The testing, which is being challenged in court, is the first random drug testing of civilian government employees under an executive order from President Reagan.

Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole earlier in the week announced that the first series of random tests would be conducted sometime during the week. In all, about 30,000 employees, about half of the department’s civilian work force, are subject to possible testing under the program.

“We tested about 50 people today,” department spokesman Hal Paris said.

Selected by Computer

Officials said the employees were selected by computer and notified by supervisors that they had to provide urine samples for testing. Paris said all of those tested Thursday were employees at the department’s Washington headquarters building.