Federal Internships

Congressional and Senate Offices

• Most popular option for students
• You always have an inside track with your own representatives
• Apply to Congressmen representing districts where your relatives live
• If you do not get an offer, feel free to call intern coordinator or chief of staff
• Internships typically last 4-6 weeks
• Most of the work does not have strong ideological or partisan content
• Some Congressmen and Senators offer compensation, but most do not

Executive Branch Agencies

• Apply early. Very early if the agency deals with national security or law enforcement.
• Internships will likely last much of the summer.

Good Places to look:

The White House

• Applications will be reviewed by the White House Internship Program team on a rolling basis during the application window; completed applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to submit their applications sooner rather than later in the application period.
• The application portal usually opens mid-October and closes mid-November.
• Selected applicants will be notified the following spring.
• The Summer program is typically a 10-week program, beginning in June and ending in mid-August.

The White House Historical Association

• The Association occasionally has internship availability in individual departments. This is on a sporadic basis, depending on the season.
• All internship opportunities will be posted on the website linked above when they are available.

Advocacy Groups

• A demonstrated commitment to the issues that a group works on is very helpful
• Much of the work will have strong ideological content
• Internships often last for the entire summer
• Many groups offer limited compensation

Political Party Organizations

There are a number of organizations that do work for various political parties (Democratic National Committee, Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, College Democrats of America, Young Republicans, Libertarian Party)

• Helps to be registered and active with a political party
• Organizations differ regarding length of internship and compensation

Think Tanks (Policy Research Organizations)

• Popular option for students interested in public policy
• These internships tend to be pretty competitive
• Commitment to both the ideology and the issues of a given think tank is helpful
• Demonstrated ability to do research is often helpful
• Internships often last the entire summer
• Most think tanks offer limited compensation

Lobbying

• Alabama connections at Van Scoyoc, Barbour, Rogers, and Griffith, and Balch and Bingham
• Compensation and work responsibilities vary

Political Media

• Washington, DC Media, Capitol Hill Media, Ideological Publications located in Washington, DC
• Some previous experience as a writer or reporter is usually helpful
• Some organizations are willing to offer training to aspiring journalists (National Journalism Center, American Journalism Center)

Public Policy Fellowships

• Henry Clay Center’s College Student Congress
• AMA Government Relations Advocacy Fellowship
• APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government
• APS Congressional Science Fellowships
• Asian Pacific American American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Fellowship
• Capital City Fellows Program (CCFP)
• Central Asia-Azerbaijan Fellowship Program
• CFR Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship
• CHLI Global Leaders Internship and Fellowship Program
• CHCI Graduate Fellowship
• CHCI Public Policy Fellowship
• Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy
• David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship
• Eben Tisdale Public Policy Fellowship
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Science and Technology Policy Fellowships (SunShot Initiative Fellowships)
• Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program
• Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
• Hertog Advanced Institutes
• Hertog Political Studies Program
• IEEE-USA Engineering & Diplomacy Fellowship
• International Leadership Foundation (ILF) Civic Fellowship Program
• John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
• Meridian Institute Fellowship
• RWJ Health Policy Fellows
• State Policy Fellowship Program
• Urban Leaders Fellowship
• S. PIRG Fellowship
• VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship
• Victory Congressional Fellowship
• Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program