Planning for a spring or summer 2026 internship?
Review the openings below posted in Handshake and many more listed on the “Great for Government & Politics” major in Handshake. For more information on the openings below, such as eligibility requirements and application due dates, click the attached links.
1. Brookings Institution: Summer 2026, American Congress & Government Internship, Governance Studies
Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings – one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students with an interest in American politics and policy to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.00, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
2. Second Day: Spring 2026 Research Intern
The National League of Cities (NLC) is seeking a talented individual aspiring towards a career in social policy research. NLC is a non-profit membership organization comprising elected officials from cities, towns, and villages across the U.S. The Center for Research and Data Analysis (RDA) within NLC provides valuable data and research to our members (elected officials). This Research Intern wil collaborate with RDA staff to support high-priority research and data analysis projects focused on Democracy and Governance projects.
Interns will have the opportunity to:
Analyze qualitative and quantitative datasets to answer big social policy questions impacting cities, towns and villages;
Collaborate with topical qualitative research by gathering data from City Mayoral speeches and Mayor’s perceptions regarding their priorities. Collaborate and network with NLC staff and other interns.
3. Foundation for Defense for Democracy: Military & Political Power Research Summer 2026 Internship
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that threaten democracy. The organization was founded shortly after 9/11 by a group of visionary philanthropists and policymakers to engage in the worldwide war of ideas and to support the defense of democratic societies under assault by terrorism and anti-Western groups. FDD combines policy research, investigative journalism, strategic communications, and democracy and counterterrorism education.
About FDD’s Internship Program
Based in downtown Washington, D.C., the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has a number of internship opportunities available. All FDD interns will have the opportunity to participate in a twice-monthly speaker series, which brings high-level DC officials and senior staff members to engage with interns in an intimate setting. FDD interns will be encouraged to build on their academic skills by working closely with senior staff. FDD is also happy to assist students who wish to earn academic credit for this internship. All interns are eligible for a stipend and will be required to complete specific government documentation before this stipend is paid.
