Fall 2025 – Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program (All Majors Welcomed)
The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program is an exciting opportunity for students of all majors to gain professional experience in the federal government. Since 2022, the program leads highly skilled talent from across the country into government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work in a federal agency.
Candidates may select a career track (listed below) that aligns most closely with their interests and skills.
- Data Science: Interested in using your data science skills for the public good? Agencies across the federal government need data scientists, and several previous Future Leaders internships focused on data science. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds, including: computer science; engineering; statistics; mathematics; economics; data analytics; data science; information technology; business, finance; biostatistics; data analytics in artificial intelligence or machine learning; and physics.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition: May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts: May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Public Interest Technology & AI: Public Interest Technology & AI positions may include a focus on operations technology-focused policy, federal AI policy, design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology and AI for public good.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
What happens after candidates submit their application?
After the application closes, the Partnership will review all candidates for this program. If candidates move to the next round, they will receive communication from the Partnership seeking the candidate’s agency preferences for their internship placement. At that time, candidates will have the opportunity to rank from their choice of agencies participating in this program. Agencies will be announced throughout the application period, and past partners include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, General Services Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation and Small Business Administration.
Applications submitted on Handshake will NOT be accepted. Please apply on our external website.
Future Leaders Program Benefits:
Selected participants will receive:
- A 10-12-week fall internship at a federal agency.
- A stipend: Stipend amounts vary by agency, opportunity type and full-time (32-40 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week) status. More information about stipends will be shared as fall 2025 agency partners are confirmed.
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the fall.
Eligibility Requirements:
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- Currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above during Fall 2025.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Data Science
- Government Contracting and Acquisition
- Liberal Arts
- Public Administration
- Public Interest Technology & AI
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in September 2025.
FAQ
Who is eligible for the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program?
U.S. citizens currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program with a 2.5 GPA or above are eligible to apply. Students must be current second-year students/sophomores and above at the time of the Fall 2025 program. Current first-year students are eligible to apply if they will be sophomores in Fall 2025.
How do I submit my reference letter?
Optional reference letters may be uploaded directly through the application portal or emailed to internships@ourpublicservice.org with the applicant’s name referenced in the subject line.
All reference letters must be received by May 2, 2025, by 11:59 pm ET.
How much is the stipend?
Stipend amounts vary by agency, opportunity type and full-time (32-40 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week) status. More information about stipends will be shared as fall 2025 agency partners are confirmed. Please refer to the Program Benefits section on each page to learn more.
Are all internship opportunities based in the Washington, D.C., area?
In-person internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and fully virtual internships are available. Future Leaders can participate fully remote within the United States throughout the duration of their internship. Future Leaders internships cannot be completed abroad.
Can my internship be virtual?
In-person internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and fully virtual internships are available. Future Leaders can participate fully remote; however, they must be in the United States throughout the duration of their internship. Future Leaders internships cannot be completed abroad.
Who are the participating agencies?
Agencies will be announced throughout the application period, and past partners include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, General Services Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation and Small Business Administration.
Can I choose my agency placement?
Applicants can select up to two preferred career tracks at the time of application. After the application closes, the Partnership will review all candidates for this program. If candidates move to the next round, they will receive communication from the Partnership seeking the candidate’s agency preferences for their internship placement. At that time, candidates will have the opportunity to rank from their choice of agencies participating in this program. Agencies will be announced in the coming months, and past partners include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, General Services Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation and Small Business Administration.
Application Timeline:
- February 14, 2025: Applications for the fall 2025 cohort open.
- May 2, 2025: Application closes.
- Mid-June 2025: Applicants are notified of eligibility status. Eligible applicants will receive instructions on next steps.
- June 16 – July 31, 2025: Virtual interviews conducted.
- August 2025: Background check process begins.
- August 12, 2025: Intern orientation (virtual).
- September 15, 2025: Internship begins.
Applications submitted on Handshake will NOT be accepted. Please apply on our external website.