Spring 2027 Government Affairs Intern

Monmouth; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) invites undergraduates or recent graduates to join as a Government Affairs Intern, supporting federal and state policy work focused on poverty reduction and equity.

You will track legislation, attend hearings and markups, summarize policy debates, maintain grids, and prepare meeting materials. Remote in the U.S.; DC metro hybrid option; 40 hours/week ET.

Qualifications

• Strong research, writing, and communications skills.
• Effective problem-solving abilities and the capacity to multitask.
• Interest in CBPP’s policy areas and low-income issues; keenness to learn about legislative policy processes.

Responsibilities

• Track current legislation and amendments moving through the congressional process.
• Attend hearings/markups and summarize policy debates.
• Monitor statements from policymakers and experts; maintain policy grids.

Skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Communications

Problem-solving

Multitasking

Low-income policy interest

MS Office

Education

Undergrad student

Public policy

Government/Political science

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a high-caliber strategic policy institute that informs and shapes public policies to reduce poverty, promote equity, and build opportunity. It has a national reputation for conducting rigorous research and analysis, developing evidence-based policy ideas and strategies, shaping a broad array of policy debates at the federal and state levels, and influencing policy outcomes on a range of critical issues. It focuses on improving the lives of people with low or moderate incomes and examines how policies affect particular groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; immigrants; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ people. CBPP is known for its unique capacity to blend rigorous, timely analysis with effective communications that enable policymakers and the media to make use of its work.

The Government Affairs Intern plays a collaborative role in supporting the Government Affairs team. They will have a unique opportunity to contribute to CBPP’s policy areas, primarily by tracking legislation affecting budget/tax policies and economic security programs.

Tracking current legislation and amendments moving through the congressional process; Attendingcongressionalhearings/markups and other policy events and summarizing policy debates; Monitoring statements from policymakers and experts; Maintaining vote/policy stance/target grids; Preparingmeeting,briefing, and presentation materials; Formulating responses to questions and requests for information from external partner organizations and individuals; and Maintaining a SharePoint database containing contacts forcongressionalstaff and coalition partners.

Qualifications:

Strongresearch, writing,and communications skills. Effective problem-solving skills. Ability to multitask and juggle competing deadlines. Understandingofand passion for CBPP’s policy areasand interest in low-income issues. Desire to learn more about the legislative policy process and advocacy coalitions. Comfort with MicrosoftExcel,PowerPoint,andWord. Education:undergraduate student or recent graduate with coursework/major in public policy, government/political science, orarelated field. Successful interns will have a commitment to CBPP’s missionto improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity.

To expand the diversity of voices that speak with authority in federal and state policy debates, CBPP’s internship program identifies highly motivated candidates — particularly those with experience with communities that are underrepresented in policy debates — with a demonstrated interest in working on public policies that affect low-income and diverse communities and have implications for racial equity.

International students are welcome to apply. The Center does not provide financial sponsorship for visas or work permits. You must have documentation of work authorization for the U.S. AND a U.S. Social Security number, as of the start date of the internship, to be employed by the Center.

ApplicationDeadline:November 22, 2026, 11:59p.m.ET

CBPP’s summer internship will be remote. Remote interns must be in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. Interns located in the Washington, D.C. metro area during the summer term will have the opportunity to work on a hybrid schedule that includes at least two days per week in person at our D.C. office.

Work Hours:Government Affairs interns should be available 40 hours per week during core Eastern Time business hours. Work schedules can be flexed to accommodate time zone differences as well as classwork and other school commitments.

Compensation:

Undergraduate students receive $18.00 per hour.

Students with a bachelor’s degree receive $19.00 per hour.

Graduate students receive $20.00 per hour.

Students with a master’s or law degree receive $21.00 per hour.

Doctoral students may receive between $20.00 and $22.00 per hour, depending on progress toward completion of degree requirements, relevant coursework, and research.

If you have read all of the information on thewebsite about internships at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and still have an inquiry about the application process, please email [e-mail]