Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program

Managed by the Partnership for Public Service, the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across all academic disciplines are welcome to apply.

Overall Program Benefits

Selected participants in the program will receive:

A semester-long internship at a federal agency
A stipend
Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the duration of the internship

The program is offered year-round during the fall, spring and summer terms. Part-time and full-time opportunities are available, as well as both remote and in-person internships. To learn about the specific benefits of each internship cycle, please visit its corresponding tab at the top of this page.

Overall Program Eligibility

To apply to the program, candidates must be:

U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
Currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
Interested in specific career tracks. Careers tracks might differ each semester, so please visit the specific program tab to look at the options available.

Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship.

Sample Intern Placements

Department of Commerce:

Office of the Chief Information Officer (STEM) Intern
- Supported programs related to the department’s AI and Emerging Technologies working group. Developed knowledge around U.S. Patent Law and current debates around emerging technologies.
Office of Scheduling and Advance (Public Administration), Office of the Secretary Intern
- Provided administrative support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary and delivered department policies to the White House, Congress, and the public.

Department of Transportation:

Office of Cargo and Commercial Sealift, Maritime Administration (Public Policy), Trade Policy Intern
- Developed policy memos on U.S. offshore wind development, which focused on how MARAD can better support U.S. shipbuilders constructing specialized offshore wind vessels.
Office of the Secretary, Office of Deputy Secretary (Liberal Arts), Communications Intern
- Worked on communications programming related to Deputy Secretary initiatives which included developing a summer speaker series and working with senior leadership to promote the agency’s work.