Federal Affairs FEMA Reform Intern

Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. is seeking a Fall 2026 intern for the Federal Affairs team to assist with FEMA/NFIP policy research and Congressional outreach.

This part-time role runs about 10 hours per week and is available remotely with an option to be hybrid from an EDF office in Washington, D.C. The intern will report to the Senior Legislative Analyst, Flood Resilience, and contribute to memos and materials for Hill offices.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in public policy, climate change, environmental advocacy, or flood resilience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support Federal Affairs team in FEMA and NFIP reform policy work in Congress.
• Research key Members of Congress, committee activity, and existing legislation.
• Prepare fact sheets, backgrounders, member briefs, and other materials for Congressional outreach.
• Provide support for meetings via material preparation and notetaking.
• Attend congressional hearings, roundtables, and other events and provide detailed notes.
• Contribute to EDF’s organizational effectiveness and inclusivity goals.

Skills

Public policy interest

Research

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate or graduate program enrollment

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location

U.S. Remote with option to be hybrid out of an EDF office in in Washington, D.C. Intern supervisor is in Washington, D.C. and many team members are in Washington, D.C.

Term

Fall 2026

Hours

Part-time (10 hrs/week)

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application.

Program/Department Overview

EDF’s Political Affairs team is working to create political will and bold policiestodeliver the greenhouse gas emissions reductions that scientists say are necessary to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Specifically, the Federal Affairs team works to build relationships with Congressional offices and support for federal policies to advance EDF’s policy priorities on climate change, clean energy, environmental justice, agriculture, resilience, transportation, and more.

Overall Function

This position will be a part of the Federal Affairs team under Political Affairs.Theintern willassisttheFederalAffairs team with research projects relevant to EDF’s federal advocacy work Particularly, this position will be focused on research related to our advocacy around reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This includes researching members of Congress, preparing educational materials for Hill offices, assisting with meetings with members of Congress, tracking relevant policy and committee actions, and writing memos. By the end of the internship, the intern will have a robust understanding of the legislative process, Congressional research, the flood resilience policy landscape, and the NFIP. The intern will report to the Senior Legislative Analyst, Flood Resilience.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Support members of the Federal Affairs team in their work to advance FEMA and NFIP reform policies in Congress.
• Research key members of Congress, committee activity, and existing legislation.
• Prepare fact sheets, backgrounders, member briefs, and other materials as necessary for Congressional outreach.
• Provide support for meetings via material preparation and notetaking.
• Attend congressional hearings, roundtables, and other events and provide detailed notes.
• Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in/or recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
• Demonstrated interest in public policy, climate change, environmental advocacy, or flood resilience.
• Coursework in political science, government, economics, or environmental science/studies.
• Relevant experience, knowledge, or strong interest in U.S. federal government or Congressional affairs preferred.
• Relevant experience, knowledge, or strong interest in emergency management, disaster resilience, and/or disaster insurance preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.

Compensation

This internship would involve compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at $18-$20/hour, depending on degree level.

Learn more about internships at EDF - http://www.edf.org/environmental-careers/internships