Over the last two months, White House employees were asked to complete a background check questionnaire that included questions about marijuana use and the use of other drugs. Now, the White House is calling for past users to resign.
What We Know:
- After revealing past marijuana use during their background checks, several White House staffers that were suspended or working from home have been asked to resign. While marijuana is legal in many states, it is still an illegal drug on the federal level, making it an issue for those who require a federal security clearance.
- As a result, CNN reports that five staffers who admitted to using marijuana have been dismissed from the White House while a few other employees continue to work remotely as they wait for their drug clearance. White House officials stated that those who were let go had additional security factors or more severe drug use that contributed to their termination.
- On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the White House “worked with the security service to update the policies to ensure that past marijuana use wouldn’t automatically disqualify staff from serving in the White House. As a result, more people will serve who would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use. The bottom line is this: of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy.”
As a result, more people will serve who would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use. The bottom line is this: of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) March 19, 2021
- The issue has primarily impacted younger employees. For now, the White House is granting waivers on a limited basis to those who have limited marijuana use in the past year and those that are required to qualify for Top Secret clearance. Employees under the waiver must agree to stop using marijuana, agree to a pledge not to use marijuana during government service, and undergo random drug tests.
Employees will be working remotely until their past usage meets the standards set by the Personnel Security Division.
