Government internships are temporary work experience programs that federal agencies offer to provide students with a unique opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world setting and explore potential careers in public service.
If you are an undergraduate student looking for internship opportunities in the US in 2026, you need this article more than it needs you.
This is for those who have ever pictured themselves working in federal agencies, say the halls of the White House handling state affairs, contributing to a NASA mission and space exploration, or working alongside FBI agents on real national security cases.
This guide gives you a clear and realistic pathway to your dream. You are about to find out what the majority do not know about government-funded internships.
Every year, federal agencies across the United States open thousands of internship positions for undergraduate students.
These government programs aren’t just there to decorate your resume—they’re the gateways to public service and launchpads for professional networks. Best of all? The vast majority of them are paid.
However, government internships in the US operate on strict timelines one must give attention to. Miss a deadline, and you could be waiting six months or a full year for the next cycle.
I’ve done the homework for you. Below are 11 US government internship programs currently accepting applications or opening soon—with deadlines, stipends, and everything you need to make an informed decision.
Why Pursue a Government Internship?
Before we get into the most interesting part of this article, let’s talk about why federal government internships deserve your attention.
First, they support every major—STEM, humanities, international relations, public policy, business, communications. Whatever you’re studying, there’s a government-sponsored internship that is a perfect match for you.
Additionally, the federal government is America’s largest employer. So a government agency internship gives you access to cutting-edge technology, national-scale policy work, and a professional network that stretches across the country. Many interns convert to full-time federal employees through programs like Pathways.
Lastly, these internships in the US government carry weight—whether you’re applying to graduate school, law school, or the private sector, federal experience signals discipline, integrity, and a commitment to something bigger than yourself.
Now, let’s get to the opportunities.
11 Government Internships You Need to Know About
To save you hours of scrolling through USAJOBS, I’ve curated 11 standout government internships actively recruiting undergraduates right now. These programs span across national security, space exploration, scientific research, and diplomacy. They are paid, career-launching, and come with strict deadlines that are closer than you think
1. White House Internship Program
Key Dates:
- Application Opens: July 13, 2026
- Application Deadline: August 10, 2026
- Internship Dates: January 13 – May 7, 2027
- Stipend: $750 per week
Eligibility:
- For US citizens
- Undergraduate or graduate student
- At least 18 years of age.
This is a perfect opportunity if you’re passionate about politics and public policy; the White House Internship Program is the crown jewel of US government internships. Thousands of interns have benefitted from this program.
As an intern in this sector, you work in the West Wing or the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, supporting senior staff with policy research, administrative tasks, and event coordination. You’re not fetching coffee—you’re helping run the executive branch.
2. FBI Honours Internship Program
Key Dates:
- Application Window: February 9 – March 5, 2026
- Internship Dates: June 1 – August 6, 2027
Eligibility:
- Be a US citizen
- Full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Pass an FBI background investigation.
The FBI Honours Internship Program is a paid government internship that puts you alongside special agents, analysts, and professional staff. Designed for those who want to experience real federal law enforcement and national security work.
Interns work at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., or one of 56 field offices across the country. The program runs for 10 weeks during the summer.
3. DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)
Key Dates:
-
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026
Eligibility:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident
- Undergraduate students and recent graduates.
- Must be at least 18 years old at the start of the internship
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
For STEM students, SULI is one of the most academically rigorous government internships available. Managed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, SULI places undergraduates at 17 DOE national laboratories.
Interns work alongside top scientists on research in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nuclear energy, biotechnology, and more.
This is a paid internship with three terms per year—spring, summer, and fall. Travel and housing stipends are available for relocating interns.
You might also like to check our list of the top 21 Best STEM Field Scholarships in the US
4. NASA Internships
Key Dates:
- Application Deadline: February 27, 2026
- Internship Dates: June 1 – August 7, 2026
- Undergraduate Stipend: $8,200
Eligibility:
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Age: Must be at least 16 years old when applying.
- GPA: Must have a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
- Enrollment: Must be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs at an accredited institution, or be a recent graduate
When people think of internships in the US, NASA is often the first name that comes to mind—and for good reason.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides paid internships across all NASA centres. Undergraduate interns work on 10-week summer projects mentored by NASA scientists and engineers, giving them access to lectures, facility tours, and professional development workshops.
5. State Department Student Internship Program
Key Dates:
- Summer Internship: Apply by September
- Fall Internship: Apply by February
- Spring Internship: Apply by June
Eligibility:
- US citizen
- GPA of 3.2 or higher
- Junior or senior current academic level
This program is for students who are passionate about diplomacy and international relations; the State Department offers a government-sponsored internship that’s hard to beat. Interns work in Washington, D.C., or at US embassies and consulates overseas, contributing to foreign policy, consular services, and public diplomacy.
The department offers both paid and unpaid positions, so read the fine print when applying.
6. Pathways Internship Program
Eligibility:
- Student Status: You must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled as a student in a high school, undergraduate, graduate, or certificate program.
- Course Load: You must take at least half-time or part-time classes as defined by your specific school.
- Academic Standing: You must remain in good standing, often maintaining a specific cumulative GPA.
- Continuing Education: You must plan to continue your education into the next academic semester or term.
The Pathways Program is the federal government’s umbrella initiative for student hiring. It’s not a single internship like the ones we reviewed before—it’s a pipeline.
Pathways offers paid government internships across dozens of agencies, from the National Park Service to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Interns work part-time during the school year or full-time over the summer.
There is no single application deadline for the federal Pathways Internship Program because each federal agency posts its own job openings with independent closing dates throughout the year.
7. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Key Dates:
- Application Opens: December 8, 2025
- Application Deadline: February 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET
- Letters of Recommendation Due: February 25, 2026
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Must be at least 18 years old by September 30, 2026.
- Undergraduate college students, community college students, graduate students, and professional school students.
If biomedical research is your calling, the NIH Summer Internship Program is one of the most prestigious government internships in the United States.
SIP places undergraduates in laboratories across the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute. Interns work on real biomedical research projects under the mentorship of NIH principal investigators.
8. CIA Undergraduate Internship Program
Key Dates:
-
Next Application Window: December 15, 2026 – January 30, 2027
Eligibility:
- Citizenship: Dual citizens are eligible, but you must possess US citizenship.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old by the time your application is processed.
- Academic Standing: You must be a full-time student pursuing an undergraduate degree. You should have at least one or two semesters remaining in your degree program after completing your internship.
- GPA: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is generally required.
- Location: You must be willing to live and work in the Washington, D.C. area for the duration of the program.
For those drawn to intelligence and national security, the CIA offers government agency internships that are as challenging as they are rewarding.
The CIA’s undergraduate internship program operates year-round, with interns working across multiple directorates. You’ll gain experience in intelligence analysis, operations support, language analysis, and more.
Important: Due to the length of CIA security clearance processes, you should apply at least 12 months before your desired start date.
9. NSA Summer Internship Program
Key Dates:
- Applications generally accepted in the fall for the following summer
- Check the NSA job board starting September 1
Eligibility:
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Education: Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at the time of application
- GPA: A preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The NSA Summer Internship Program offers over 30 different, 12-week paid opportunities running from mid-May to mid-August for undergraduate freshmen through PhD students. Applications typically open on September 1st and close on October 31st each year for the following summer’s cohort.
NSA internships come with benefits including paid time off, holiday leave, and sick leave.
10. Department of Justice Internships
Key Dates:
- Summer Internship: Apply by February 1
- Fall Internship: Apply by June 15
- Spring Internship: Apply by October 1
Eligibility:
- Citizenship: Most components require U.S. citizenship, but certain exceptions apply to dual citizens or legal permanent residents, depending on the specific division or office.
- Background Check: All selected interns must pass a comprehensive federal background investigation.
- Security Clearance: Many positions, particularly within national security divisions or specific agencies, require interns to qualify for a Top-Secret security clearance.
The Department of Justice offers undergraduate internships across its many divisions—from the Civil Rights Division to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The internship applications are highly structured and typically open nearly a year in advance due to comprehensive federal background checks and security clearances.
Interns assist attorneys and paralegals with legal research, document review, and case preparation.
11. EPA Student Internships
Key Dates:
-
Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 applications are now being accepted
Eligibility:
- Enrollment: You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a qualifying academic institution
- Course Load: You must maintain at least a half-time course schedule.
- Academic Standing: You generally need to maintain good academic standing
- Background Check: You must pass a standard federal background investigation and, in some cases, fingerprinting or drug screenings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regularly hosts paid and unpaid student internship programs to raise future environmental and STEM professionals. The NETI Student Intern Program, for example, accepts applications for fall and spring terms. Interns work at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., or remotely.
Note: Some EPA internships are unpaid, while others are paid—check individual postings.
Application Links for Internship Programs in This List:
Here is a handy reference table with the official application links for all 11 internships covered in the article.
| Internship Program | Official Application Link |
|---|---|
| White House Internship Program | https://www.whitehouse.gov/internships/apply/ |
| FBI Honours Internship Program | https://fbijobs.gov/students-and-graduates |
| DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) | https://science.osti.gov/wdts/suli |
| NASA Internships | https://intern.nasa.gov/ |
| State Department Student Internship Program | Search “State Department Student Internship Program” on USAJOBS |
| Pathways Internship Program | Search “Pathways Internship” on USAJOBS |
| NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) | https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/grads/summer-internship-program |
| CIA Undergraduate Internship Program | https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-programs/ |
| NSA Summer Internship Program | Check the job board at https://www.nsa.gov/Careers/Student-Programs/ |
| Department of Justice Internships | Check individual postings on USAJOBS or the DOJ website |
| EPA Student Internships | Check the NETI program page or search on USAJOBS |
A quick note: For programs like the State Department, Pathways, DOJ, and EPA, many opportunities are posted directly on USAJOBS.gov. I’ve included the specific agency pages where possible, but searching on USAJOBS is often the most direct way to find current openings.
How to Stand Out in Your Internship Application
Securing a US government internship is competitive. Here’s how to increase your odds:
- Start early – Many federal internships require security clearances that take months.
- Tailor your resume – Federal resumes are longer and more detailed than private-sector ones. Use USAJOBS’s resume builder.
- Apply to multiple programs – Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- Meet every deadline – Late applications are rarely accepted.
- Highlight relevant experience – Even campus leadership or volunteer work counts.
You Can Take The Bold Decision Now
These government internships in the US represent some of the most transformative opportunities available to undergraduates. Whether you’re aiming for the White House, a national lab, or an intelligence agency, there’s a program out there for you.
But remember: these windows close fast. The White House Spring 2027 deadline is August 10, 2026. The FBI Honours deadline is March 5, 2026. The DOE SULI deadline is September 30, 2026.
Mark your calendars. Prepare your materials. And take the first step toward a career that matters.
