Navigating the White House Internship Program: An In-Depth Look
The White House Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for students and young professionals to gain valuable experience in public service. This article provides an in-depth look at the program, covering various aspects from eligibility and application to the experiences and impact of the internship.
Overview of the White House Internship Program
The White House Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. Interns work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Their responsibilities vary but often include event planning and execution, research, writing and outreach to external partners, including federal agencies and colleges and universities. The program also incorporates opportunities for professional and personal growth through workshops and trainings specifically geared toward students and young professionals, such as networking, office etiquette, resume reviews and interviewing. Interns are also invited to participate in staff-wide workshops and trainings, including lunch and learns with speakers such as high-ranking government officials and corporate partners. Interns complete a learning agreement at the start, a mid-term review and an end-of-term evaluation.
Eligibility and Application Process
Applicants for intern positions must be undergraduates or graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders offers full-time internships year round (spring, summer, and fall). Part-time applicants who can commit to at least 20 hours a week will be considered, although the Initiative prioritizes full-time applicants (32-40 hours a week). All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted on or before the corresponding application deadline. No hard copies of applications are accepted. Recommendation letters can be written by anyone who can speak to your qualifications, character, and commitment to public service.
The application period for the internship program varies, with specific dates for each term:
- May 26 to Aug. Application Period: Feb.
- Sept. 3 to Dec. Jan. Application Period: Sept. 9 through Oct.
*Exceptions for start date may be considered if academic obligations interfere with alternative college/university schedules.
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The applicant review and selection process depends on the number of applicants, though the aim is to conduct phone interviews and extend offers within a month after the application deadline.
Internship Structure and Responsibilities
Most internship positions are designed to be full-time (40 hours per week) in order to maximize all components of the internship program, however part-time schedules on certain teams are considered. Some internship roles supporting program delivery require specific work hours and are not ideal for interns available less than 30 hours per week.
Interns are placed in various departments, including:
- Communications: Communications interns are integral Communications team members and assist with writing, editing and brainstorming new ideas. Our interns will be placed in one of three sub-teams within the Communications team-marketing, press or storytelling. Press interns support media relations efforts including building press lists, drafting press materials and supporting other media outreach efforts. Storytelling interns provide administrative, logistical and research support for a variety of efforts to better understand perceptions of government and raise public awareness around the role and impact of government.
- Development: The Development team identifies, cultivates and secures financial and in-kind support for the Partnership’s programs and activities. The Development intern will learn the basics of nonprofit fundraising and relationship management, including how to conduct prospect research, cultivate new donors and work with our corporate sponsors and other existing supporters.
- Programs: The Programs team hosts and delivers programs, convenings and training sessions that aim to develop strong leaders, engage employees, encourage innovation and build participants’ government networks. The Programs team is looking for interns to help support our leadership development, business development or AI policy work. Programs interns have the unique opportunity to develop leadership and project management skills by assisting in the delivery of programs for government employees.
- Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement: The Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team is the Partnership’s voice on policy - particularly focused on the legislative and regulatory policies that impact the federal workforce and management of government agencies. The Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team offers interns the opportunity to become more informed about the legislative and regulatory process, and the policies and practices of the government. It also provides an opportunity to see how advocacy occurs through the lens of a non-profit and how we can drive change through our work.
- Public Service Recruitment and Employee Engagement: The Partnership’s Public Service Recruitment and Employee Engagement interns have the unique opportunity to develop leadership, project management and research skills by helping our team deliver a variety of programs. During their internship, interns will learn more about project management, event planning, data collection and analysis, relationship management, proposal development, marketing and customer service.
- White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Interns at the Initiative are responsible for assisting the staff on a wide range of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) issues and priorities, including capacity-building, civil rights, data disaggregation, economic development, education, health, immigration, language access, and workforce diversity.
The Unpaid Internship Debate
White House internships are unpaid positions. Applicants are encouraged to contact educational institutions and other non-profit organizations to apply for assistance as needed. Some exceptions will be made for applicants with class or program requirements, but interns must work 4.5 days a week in order to be considered full-time interns.
The return to unpaid internships sends a loud message about who is seen, who is valued, and who is being left behind. Let’s be clear: unpaid internships favor the privileged-those who can afford to work for free in one of the most expensive cities in the country.
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Organizations like Pay Our Interns, alongside other key advocates, worked tirelessly with the Biden Administration to establish the first-ever paid internship program-a crucial move toward equity and access.
Voices and Experiences of White House Interns
Interning at The White House gave me the chance to go outside my comfort zone. As a former White House intern, I experienced firsthand what it means to be part of a paid, diverse, and inclusive intern class made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration. We came from community colleges, HBCUs, state schools, and underfunded public high schools, representing a wide range of racial, regional, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds-all united by a shared commitment to public service.
One former intern shared their experience in the Office of the Vice President, working in the Communications Department. Their tasks included monitoring media coverage of the Vice President, preparing memos and press releases, and completing various other tasks. Despite having no prior experience in communications, supervisors were patient and willing to teach, making it easy to learn and contribute.
Notable Alumni
Many individuals who have participated in the White House Internship Program have gone on to achieve prominence in various fields. These include:
- Michael H. Keiffer
- J. Lewis
- Emily Fox
- Krissah Thompson
- Jim Ferrell
- Kristina Wong
- Kate Havard
- Deesha Dyer
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