Paid internships at the White House for the first time

The Biden-Harris administration announced June 2, 2022, that it would be paying interns for the first time in the history of the White House Internship Program. The application for the Fall 2022 session will open on Monday, June 6 and close on Friday, June 24.

Announcing the launch of the first paid session of the White House Internship Program which commences in Fall 2022, the White House said it would help remove barriers to equal opportunity for low-income students and first-generation professionals, with the intent also to diversify the program to reflect America’s diversity.

“Too often, unpaid federal internships have been a barrier to hardworking and talented students and professionals, preventing them from contributing their talents and skills to the country and holding them back from federal career advancement opportunities,” the White House said in the press release.

The funds for paying interns come from bipartisan legislation that became law earlier this year.

This funding provides for paid internships across the Executive Office of the President. Interns participating in the White House Internship Program will support the White House Office and the Office of the Vice President.

The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House and furthering the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration, the White House said.

Candidates can find the Program’s online application at WH.gov/intern. The website also features additional information about the Program, including a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.

Each year, leaders from around the country participate in the White House Internship Program to dedicate their time, energy, and experience to serve the country through public service, the announcement noted.

The Fall 2022 session will be hosted in-person on the White House campus. Program leadership will continue to monitor the public health landscape related to COVID-19 and will adapt the Program’s approach in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, the White House said in the press release. All interns will be required to attest to their vaccination status and must adhere to any White House COVID-19 protocols.

The Fall 2022 session will be a 14-week program, beginning on Monday, September 12 and ending on Friday, December 16. Selected applicants will be notified the week of August 8.

Program participants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years or older before the first day of the Program, and meet at least one of the three following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution)
• Graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution) no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program
• A veteran of the United States Armed Forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty, for any length of time, no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program

The White House Internship Program application and additional information about the Program can be found at WH.gov/intern.

Prospective candidates with questions about the Program, as well as college/university administrators, faculty, campus leadership, and others interested in more information to share with their communities can reach out to the White House Internship Program team at internship@who.eop.gov.