White House Internship Program

Thank you for your interest in serving your country and working for the Obama Administration. The White House Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills.  This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office and prepare them for future public service opportunities.

In addition to typical office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, assist at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.

"This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I'm proud that they will have this opportunity to serve," said President Obama. "I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country."   

White House Internships are full-time unpaid positions and participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing for the duration of the program.
Applicants are encouraged to contact educational and other non-profit organizations to apply for funding or housing assistance. Applicants can contact local schools for housing opportunities.

Qualifications

Applicants must be:

• US Citizens
• Eighteen years of age on or before the first day of the internship
• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated in the past two years from undergraduate or graduate school.

OR

• A veteran of the United States Armed forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty at any time over the past two years is eligible.

Application for Summer 2009 Internship

The summer application process is closed. Applicants will be notified by April 20th of their acceptance into the White House internship program. The program will begin the end of May and end mid-August.

NEW: Application for Fall 2009 Internship

A completed application includes: two short essay questions, three letters of recommendation, a resume and an unofficial transcript. Applicants will be notified by July of their acceptance into the White House internship program.
The webform to submit your Fall application will go up in late April. Click here to see a sample of the application so you can start preparing your materials. No materials will be accepted until the webform is up including RECOMMENDATIONS. For questions, please consult our FAQ page. Recommenders, please consult our recommender FAQ.

NEW: Application for DC Scholars Internship 2009

The application for the DC Scholars program is now up. This is a program for DC public high school students committed to public service and learning more about the White House. The DC Scholars Internship Program is an unpaid part-time internship. Applicants must be 18 years old by June 22nd to participate in the program. The program runs from June 22nd to August 14th. Click here for more details and the application.

For questions, consult our FAQ page.

Key Dates for the White House Internship program

2009 Summer Internship

• Submission deadline for the Summer Internship Program is March 22, 2009.
• Applicants will be notified whether they have been accepted by mid-April.
• The Summer Internship program runs from May 22-August 14.

2009 Fall Internship

•    Submission deadline for the Fall Internship Program is June1, 2009.
•    Applicants will be notified whether they have been accepted the first week of July.
•    The Fall program runs from September 8-December 18.

Note: There will be no exceptions for missing the submission deadline.

Presidential Department Descriptions

Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President. Interns will be asked to list their top five preferred offices in their application.

White House Department of Scheduling and Advance

This department coordinates President Obama's travel and event itineraries, as well as the planning and preparation that go into supporting the President at events around the country and world.  This charge includes the consideration and selection of President Obama's scheduling commitments, the planning and preparation in the weeks and days preceding travel and events, and the successful execution of Presidential events.  The Department of Scheduling and Advance works closely with the Secret Service and the White House Communications Agency to coordinate logistics for the President, but preparing the President's schedule and ensuring a successful Presidential visit also requires frequent interaction with a variety of federal agencies and state and local entities.  

The Office of Cabinet Affairs

This office is the primary liaison between the President and his Cabinet.  The office coordinates communications and logistics between the White House and the Cabinet and manages issues that affect multiple federal agencies.  Staff in the Cabinet Affairs office are in daily communication with senior staff at each agency and within the White House coordinating activities that include special events, communications strategy and policy dissemination.  The staff includes the Cabinet Secretary, the Deputy Cabinet Secretary, three Deputy Directors and a special assistant.  Interns will work with staff to facilitate office operations and implement all activities.

The White House Communications Department

The Communications Department crafts the message that the President delivers to the country. Through speeches, web videos and even newspaper articles in your hometown paper, the Communications Department keeps the country informed. You will learn about and work with different areas of the media – speechwriting, new media, regional press, surrogate press and message/event planning.  The work in the department is fast-paced, challenging, diverse and an exciting place to learn!

The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs

This office is responsible for building relationships with advocacy groups, Non-governmental organization, and all currently elected state officials.  The Office of Public Liaison is also the primary channel through which the general public relates to the White House.  Staffers in OPL/IGA consistently work with elected officials and advocates to ensure the President's agenda is supported and continually pushed not only inside the Beltway, but in all areas of the country.  Interns with this office will work alongside staff members to build new and maintain current relationships with state elected officials and national advocacy leaders, prepare for presidential trips around the country, prepare for elected and advocacy group briefings in the White House, and assist in all other facets of advancing the President's agenda.

The Office of the First Lady

The Office of the First Lady aids Mrs. Obama in all aspects of her public life. The staff is split up into six departments: Chief of Staff, Policy, Communications, Scheduling, Correspondence, and the Social Office. As an intern you could work with staff to develop Mrs. Obama's role in important policy issues, help manage the First Lady's hectic schedule, respond to the many letters she receives, or assist in planning the many events hosted by the First Lady, ranging from musical events to State Dinners.

The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)

This office serves as the President's primary liaison to the United States Congress. As such, OLA is responsible for the development and implementation of the White House's legislative strategy. OLA staffers are on the front lines of promoting the President's agenda on Capitol Hill. Associates in the office will work alongside staff members as they respond to Congressional inquiries and requests notify Congress about Presidential initiatives and work to advance the President's legislative priorities.

The Office of Management and Administration

White House Management and Administration offers important operational and administrative support for the President of the United States and the White House Office.  It also provides administrative oversight to all components of the Executive Office of the President. Interns in this department will have the unique opportunity to perform a function or supporting role that touches a wide range of offices and staff in the Executive Branch. Possible office assignments include: White House Operations, White House Personnel, Visitors Office, Photo Office, Office of Administration, and the Management and Administration Front Office.  An internship in White House Management and Administration presents unique insights and learning opportunities for future public service executives.

The Office of White House Counsel

This office advises the President, the Office of the President, and the White House staff on all legal issues pertaining to the President and the White House. It is often said that the Office sits at the intersection of law, policy and politics. The Office advises on investigations, litigation, legislative and administrative proposals, policy initiatives, and judicial nominations, as well as providing legal advice on the myriad of questions that arise in the day-to-day work of the Executive Office of the President. The Counsel’s Office includes the Counsel to the President, four deputy counsels, fourteen associate counsels, four deputy associate counsels, and eight administrative support staff.

The Office of Political Affairs

The Office of Political Affairs serves the President by providing him with an accurate assessment of the political dynamics affecting the work of his Administration; supporting the advancement of his agenda; and ensuring that the White House understands the priorities of, and remains in close contact with, Americans across the nation.

In practice, OPA’s staff is assigned by region and other areas of focus, and are responsible for staying in close communication with constituents and stakeholders, tracking and assessing developments in their areas, and creating and supporting opportunities to advance the President’s agenda and implement his policies.

White House Office of Energy and Climate Change

The Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC) is a newly-created office within The Executive Office of the President that works to support President Obama’s agenda on energy and climate change. The OECC coordinates and works closely with a host of government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the Department of the Interior, and others. In addition, the OECC works closely with a broad array of stakeholders to identify new opportunities to create green jobs and transition to a new clean energy economy.

The Domestic Policy Council

The Domestic Policy Council supervises the development, coordination and execution of domestic policy in the White House. The DPC also offers advice to the President and represents his priorities to Congress. Melody Barnes is the President’s Domestic Policy Adviser and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

The Office of Presidential Correspondence 

Supporting the President’s effort to maintain a mutually beneficial dialogue with the American people, the Presidential Correspondence Office handles official correspondence on behalf of the President.  From private citizens to civic organizations and elected officials, this office receives and responds to the spectrum of sundry letters that the President receives every day.  The Presidential Correspondence Office also collaborates with other White House offices to draft letters on behalf of the President.  Finally, the office manages the creation of Presidential Proclamations and operates the White House Comment Line, which provides the President with rapid-fire feedback and ideas from the American people.

National Economic Council

The National Economic Council (NEC) was established in 1993 to advise the President on U.S. and global economic policy. The NEC has four principal functions: to coordinate policy-making for domestic and international economic issues, to coordinate economic policy advice for the President, to ensure that policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's economic goals, and to monitor implementation of the President's economic policy agenda. The work of the NEC covers various fields including: housing, agriculture, commerce, energy, financial markets, fiscal policy,healthcare, labor, and Social Security. Interns will help with scheduling requests, administrative support for the policy specialists, basic research and meeting coordination.

The White House Office of Presidential Personnel

The Office of Presidential Personnel oversees the selection process for Presidential appointments. PPO staff members work to recruit qualified candidates to serve the President in departments and agencies across the government. Interns in PPO will work with staff to respond to candidates, communicate with departments and agencies on personnel matters and ensure that the personnel priorities of the Administration are being addressed.

Office of the Vice President

Each of the departments housed within the Office of the Vice President supports the Vice President’s work as an advisor to the President, diplomat and the President of the Senate. The Office of the Vice President maintains solid relationships with the members of the United States Congress to promote the Administration’s legislative priorities on Capitol Hill. The Office of the Vice President also develops policy options on a wide range of issues ranging from foreign policy and national security to economic recovery and housing. Additionally, the Office of the Vice President handles all of the Vice President’s correspondences, speechwriting, events, scheduling and travel.

Office of the Vice President Departments:

• Office of Dr. Biden in the Office of the Vice President
• The Office of the Counsel to the Vice President
• National Security Affairs in the Office of the Vice President
• The Vice President's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Communications Office in the Office of the Vice President
• Advance Office for the Vice President
• Department of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Vice President
• The Office of Scheduling for the Vice President
• Economic Policy Department in the Office of the Vice President
• Domestic Policy Department in the Office of the Vice President
• Office of Administration in the Office of the Vice President
• Office of the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice President