2021 Summer Internship Program
APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.CBO.GOV/CAREERS
The Congressional Budget Office’s summer internship program provides an excellent opportunity for graduate students to experience and observe the budget process and policymaking at the federal level. Though most of CBO’s employees are in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the internships will be conducted virtually. In-person internships may be possible after July 1 if conditions allow. The internships will begin in late May and last 10 weeks. Interns contribute to CBO’s work in areas such as budget and tax policy, health care, national defense, the environment, education, retirement assistance, other income assistance, regulation, and public investment. In addition, interns participate in an educational program that includes briefings on CBO’s role in the budget process. Interns are also afforded networking opportunities with budget and policy professionals. Please see CBO’s page on internships for additional information.
Qualifications
Students must be pursuing graduate academic programs in economics, public policy, health policy, financial management, mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Those pursuing a JD or an MBA do not align with this year’s projects and will not be considered.
CBO is also unable to consider undergraduate students for the summer internship program.
All CBO summer internships require solid writing skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely. Familiarity with computer programming, statistics, econometrics, and other quantitative methods is desirable. Ideal candidates also have exceptional interpersonal and analytical skills. U.S. citizens are eligible for consideration, as are noncitizens who are permanent residents of the United States and seeking citizenship. Before applying, noncitizens should refer to CBO’s information about citizenship requirements or call 202-226-2628 to determine employment eligibility.
How to Apply
Students must submit a cover letter, a résumé, contact information for two references (who may know the applicant either from academic work or from employment), and an unofficial copy of transcripts that include coursework for the spring semester. First-year graduate students must submit both an undergraduate transcript and a graduate transcript. A complete application must be submitted through CBO’s website by February 26, 2021, EST, to be considered; there will be no exceptions. Applicants should be sure that their email provider accepts email from careers@cbo.gov.
Only complete applications will be considered. Applicants are advised to provide a descriptive name for each document that they upload—for example, “Undergraduate Transcripts,” “Graduate Transcripts,” or “Coursework for Next Semester.”
This position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as made applicable to CBO by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended. The following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans and service members who qualify for veterans status and who are able to certify that they expect to be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty service in the armed forces within 120 days of certification.
To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans’ preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans’ Preference section of the application. To do so, complete CBO’s Veterans’ Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form and email it to VEOA@cbo.gov no later than the deadline to apply. Documents submitted by email may not be secure, so please remove confidential personal identifying information (such as your Social Security number and birthdate). Do not upload supporting documentation as part of your application. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO’s Veterans’ Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov.
Salary and Benefits
The hourly rate ranges from $16 to $30 and will be commensurate with educational attainment and related experience.
Additional Information
Candidates who do not complete their application by the February 26, 2021, deadline will not be considered. Shortly after that deadline, hiring managers will review complete applications to determine whether a candidate’s interests, background, and skills match CBO’s current requirements CBO may contact candidates to determine their interest in the internship and confirm their skills and availability. CBO expects to extend offers by April 2, 2021. When all internship positions have been filled, the internship page of CBO’s website will be updated to indicate that fact, and all qualified candidates to whom CBO is unable to offer an internship will be notified.
The summer internship program runs between May 24, 2021, and July 30, 2021; there may be some flexibility in those dates.