Spring 2027 Internships
FDD Action’s Spring 2027 internship application is now live here with applications being considered on a rolling basis.
About FDD Action’s Internship Program
We are seeking full-time and part-time 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 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. We offer two distinct internships:
- As a policy intern, you will develop a tangible skill set and insider knowledge of how Congress actually works—the kind of foundation that launches Capitol Hill careers. Expect to sharpen your research, writing, and analytical abilities while building a professional network that extends well beyond your time here. You’ll also gain unique experience in our policy work, providing insight into how national security advocacy operates in practice.
- 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. Our alumni have gone on to hold positions in congressional offices, think tanks, and executive-branch agencies.
We are looking for detail-oriented self-starters with strong research skills and genuine curiosity about the legislative process. Prior Hill experience is a plus, but is not required—motivation and initiative matter more.
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, Computer Science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study.
- 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
In your cover letter, please specify the internship concentrations for which you would like to be considered (feel free to indicate preferences): 1) Europe and U.S. Cyber Policy; 2) Middle East and U.S. Defense Policy; and 3) Indo-Pacific, Latin America, and U.S. Financial Power. If you plan to also apply for the advocacy internship, please indicate which internship you would consider your primary preference.
If you have questions, contact us at [email protected].