Bill Overview
Title: A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to administer polygraph examinations to certain foreign nationals with access to nonpublic areas or information of the National Laboratories.
Description: This bill requires the Department of Energy to administer polygraphs to foreign nationals of countries of particular concern (as designated by the State Department based on the country's violations of religious freedom) as a condition of their employment at or internal access to the department's national laboratories.
Sponsors: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Target Audience
Population: Foreign nationals from countries of particular concern with access to Department of Energy National Laboratories
Estimated Size: 500
- The bill targets foreign nationals from countries designated as of 'particular concern'.
- Countries of particular concern are designated by the State Department based on religious freedom violations.
- The bill deals specifically with employment or access within the Department of Energy's national laboratories.
- Not all foreign nationals, but only those from specific countries will be impacted.
- The population impacted includes scientists, researchers, administrative staff, contractors, and other foreign nationals requiring nonpublic access to these labs.
Reasoning
- The target population is small (estimated at around 5,000 foreign nationals), which limits widespread impact.
- Budget constraints and program size suggest that the policy might only cover the initial costs for implementing polygraphs for a portion of the identified group.
- The focus is on foreign nationals, mostly impacting scientists and technical staff from countries with recognized religious freedom issues.
- There is minimal direct impact on US citizens, though they may experience indirect effects through their work environment or international collaborations.
Simulated Interviews
Research Scientist (Los Alamos, NM)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's an unnecessary hurdle for scientists like me.
- It's frustrating to see my work affected by politics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 9 |
Lab Manager (Berkeley, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new process will make onboarding slower and more complex.
- I'm concerned about losing talented researchers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Computer Scientist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the security needs, but it seems discriminatory to target specific countries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy creates unnecessary barriers for international collaboration.
- It may deter future talent from coming to the US.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security is important but targeting specific groups feels wrong.
- I worry about future job prospects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 9 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about limitations for future job opportunities.
- This affects my decision to stay in the US long-term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
IT Specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect longer processing times for new hires.
- It could damage the lab's global competitiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Administrative Staff (Santa Fe, NM)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will add complications to my job.
- I expect an increase in paperwork and delays.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Human Resources Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will complicate recruiting processes.
- I fear losing diverse perspectives that enrich our work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Senior Researcher (Oak Ridge, TN)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is likely to strain international partnerships.
- It could have prevented some of my past collaborations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12500000)
Year 2: $10500000 (Low: $7800000, High: $13000000)
Year 3: $11000000 (Low: $8250000, High: $13750000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $15000000)
Year 10: $14000000 (Low: $10500000, High: $17500000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $22500000, High: $37500000)
Key Considerations
- The bill targets foreign nationals from countries of particular concern, not all foreign nationals.
- Implementation requires coordination with existing security protocols to minimize disruptions.
- Indirect effects include potential delays or operational inefficiencies in research activities.
- Training and hiring requirements for polygraph specialists need to be factored in.