Economic Policy Program, Fall Internship in Washington, District of Columbia at Bipartisan Policy Center
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Job Description
BPC's Spring Internship Program
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s internship program is built around each intern’s goals. Interns conduct research, support project analysts and staff, and see firsthand how people from both parties work together on policy. The program also offers exposure to the policymaking process and the functions of a think tank, plus professional development and networking with BPC staff and interns across DC.
Spring interns work 18 to 20 hours per week and receive a $3,000 stipend, paid in two equal installments during the internship. Interns set a weekly schedule with their intern manager at the start of the semester and can adjust it around class commitments.
BPC’s internships are based in our Washington, DC office. BPC staff are in the office Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work from home on Monday and Friday. Relocation assistance is not provided.
The Spring 2027 internship program runs Tuesday, January 26, 2027, through Thursday, April 1, 2027.
Project Description:
BPC's Economic Policy Program (EPP) develops bipartisan policy recommendations designed to enhance the economic opportunity, prosperity, and security of the American people. EPP continues to be a trusted leader in the analysis of federal fiscal policy, encompassing the areas of debt, tax reform, sequestration, the federal budget process, and retirement and financial security.
EPP’s is known for its analysis of the federal debt limit, a project that was initially led by now Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell during his time as a Fellow at BPC. Subsequent analyses have long been widely cited both in the media and directly by policymakers.
Our team also provides research, analysis, and commentary on the major fiscal and budget debates occurring at any given time in Washington, from the implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s spending caps to the risks and harms of government shutdowns to the future trajectory of U.S. government finances.
EPP’s tax portfolio seeks bipartisan reform that will create opportunities for businesses of all sizes, support workers and families, and improve our nation’s fiscal outlook in the years to come. We are especially focused on opportunities for fiscally responsible tax reform.
Our work on retirement security focuses on policies that expand access to well-designed retirement savings vehicles, help Americans preserve their retirement income, and resolve Social Security’s structural imbalance to avoid harmful and abrupt benefit cuts when the program’s trust fund is depleted.
We continue to play a prominent role in informing and promoting legislative progress on private-sector savings, working to advance reforms that help Americans create financial security through emergency savings accounts, savings for retirement, and other government assistance to promote economic growth and security.
In 2022, EPP acquired and relaunched the American Savings Education Council (ASEC), a unique cross-sector public-private partnership originally formed in 1994 by the U.S. Department of Labor and Employee Benefit Research Institute.
Responsibilities:
The intern will be working closely with all the policy experts across our team, reporting to the program manager. Responsibilities will vary day-to-day, but may include:
- Support long-term policy projects and papers by conducting background research and writing
- Draft blog posts and assist staff in preparing responses to Hill and media requests
- Monitoring major congressional activity, analyzing budget documents
- Take notes at Congressional hearings and external events
- Event planning, program management, and administrative tasks
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students at the rising junior level or above, currently enrolled graduate students, or graduates within the past 12 months
- Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply but must have a valid work permit or visa verifying eligibility to work in the United States. BPC does not offer visa sponsorship.
Qualifications:
- Must be an enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate school or be a recent graduate
- Strong research and writing skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- An interest in fiscal and economic policy topics, such as tax policy, retirement savings, and federal budget policy
- Strong research and data analysis skills; proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Suite preferred
Application Process:
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until a qualified candidate has been identified.
- Send a separate application for each internship of interest, and do not submit more than once to the same posting.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- No phone calls, please.
Required Materials (if possible, please submit as one PDF file):
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Writing sample, three to five pages
- College or university transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
- Brief response to the question “What does bipartisanship mean to you?” (five to eight sentences)
To celebrate diversity and ensure equity and inclusivity, BPC is committed to:
- Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce with insights and solutions for our increasingly divided society
- Creating a workplace culture where all employees feel valued and their perspectives are heard
- Developing policy solutions and undertaking research that reflect a diversity of thought and experience
These commitments help us fulfill our mission and foster bipartisanship more effectively.