I think I got it now

.circleci/config.yml

@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ jobs:
       # Set up Test DB
       - run: sudo apt install postgresql-client-9.4 postgresql-9.4
       - run: sudo /etc/init.d/postgresql start
-      - run: |
-           psql -U postgres < newdb.sql
+      - run: sudo ./newdb.sh
 
       # Download and cache dependencies
       - restore_cache:

newdb.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+su postgres -c "psql < newdb.sql"