Spring 2027 FDD Action Advocacy Internship

Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 11,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipends

Academic credit possible

Job summary

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) invites applications for its Spring 2027 Action Advocacy Internship in Washington, DC. Interns will work at the intersection of research, strategy, and legislative action, analyzing national security issues and tracking policy debates on Capitol Hill.

Participants will gain hands-on experience, develop communications and messaging skills, and contribute to roundups and policy alerts while working with mentors and issue-area experts.

Qualifications

• GPA 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or higher.
• Fields of study include International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and basic Excel skills.
• Commit to minimum 22 hours per week and eligibility to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to FDD Action's NatSec Roundup, the weekly publication for congressional staffers.
• Support advocacy team in creating Action Alerts and Policy Alerts for endorsed legislation and policies.
• Help craft social media content advancing policy priorities.
• Monitor and track important national security developments and breaking events.

Skills

Strong research

Writing skills

Detail-oriented

Communications

Time management

Education

GPA 3.2 (min)

International Relations

Security Studies

History

Communications

Journalism

International Economics

Political Science

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

FDD Action Advocacy Spring 2027 Internship

About FDD Action is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that works with policymakers to advance a robust U.S. foreign policy that strengthens our national security, counters our adversaries, and supports our allies. FDD Action provides Congress with actionable insights and legislative solutions, including through the NDAA and appropriations processes, to counter China, Russia, Iran, and other adversaries and threats. Our extensive expertise ranges from sanctions and counterterrorism to arms sales, combating antisemitism, and addressing foreign influence in education.

About FDD Action's Advocacy Internship

We are seeking full-time and part-time advocacy interns to work at the intersection of research, strategy, and legislative action. You'll be embedded in real congressional projects: analyzing pressing national security challenges and tracking live policy debates as they unfold on Capitol Hill. Issue areas include Iran and Israel, Russia and Ukraine, China, sanctions and export controls, defense policy, and countering foreign malign influence and activities. Through this internship, interns will contribute to FDD Action's efforts to shape policies being developed in Congress.

As an advocacy intern, you will develop practical communications and messaging skills essential for any national security, advocacy, or policy career. Expect to sharpen your writing, editing, and strategic communication abilities while building a professional network that extends well beyond your time here. You'll gain valuable insights into how to communicate complex policy objectives effectively to key policymakers and stakeholders.

We provide interns with dedicated mentorship and career guidance through educational sessions with issue-area experts and FDD Action staff.

We are looking for detail-oriented self-starters with strong research skills and a genuine interest in how policy and communications intersect. Prior Hill experience is a plus, but is not required.

Intern Responsibilities

• Contribute to FDD Action's NatSec Roundup, our flagship weekly publication for congressional staffers. In doing so, interns will learn about how legislation moves through Congress and where congressional work meets national security.
• Support FDD Action's advocacy team as it works to produce Action Alerts and Policy Alerts in support of endorsed legislation, letters, and policies.
• Help craft social media content that advances FDD Action's policy priorities.
• Monitor and track important national security developments and breaking events.

Eligibility

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science.
• Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Application Materials Required

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter (Please review our website and include which FDD Action projects and issue areas resonate with you and why. Also, indicate where you found this internship and your availability for the semester.)
• Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)
• Unofficial transcript copy

If you also plan to apply for the policy internship, please indicate in your cover letter which internship you would consider your primary preference.

The organization offers stipends and can assist students seeking academic credit; however, stipend eligibility requirements must be met.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early. Incomplete applications will not be considered.