Domestic Policy Studies

Health Policy Studies

The Domestic Policy Studies, Center for Health Policy Studies intern, focuses on advancing efforts to transform the health care system so that individuals own and control their insurance policies and the flow of dollars in the health care system. The Health Policy intern compiles reliable research on various aspects on health policy and reform. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

Welfare Policy Studies

The Domestic Policy Studies, Welfare Policy Studies intern, focuses on research to reduce welfare dependence and decrease poverty through increased self-support. The Welfare Policy intern assists with research projects as assigned by Senior Fellow and Policy Analyst for welfare studies; the intern attends, takes note, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on topics related to welfare policy.

Education Policy Studies

The Education Policy Studies department studies federal and state education issues, focusing on two critical areas of education policy: reducing the federal role in education and empowering families with school choice. Education policy interns compile reliable research on education policy. Education policy interns attend, take notes, and summarize congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these specific topics. Education policy interns are responsible for compiling daily news articles and on occasion will be asked to draft blogs.

The DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

The DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Societyoversees research in areas that determine the character of our culture: marriage, family, religion, and civil society. Marriage, Family and Welfare Policy interns compile reliable research on a particular issue, such as family, welfare and poverty, religion and civil society. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these specific topics.

Allison Center for Foreign Policy

Africa and Middle East

The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The Africa and Middle East Policy intern reports directly to the Policy Analyst for Africa and the Middle East, at whose direction the intern conducts research primarily on Africa policy issues including terrorism, democracy and governance, refugees, and foreign aid and development.The intern may be assigned to take notes at congressional hearings, conferences, and other events, assist with the drafting of blog posts or other written products, occasionally help prepare and execute events hosted by the Policy Analyst for Africa and the Middle East, and perform any other duties necessary to assist the Policy Analyst in the course of his work.

Comprehensive

The Foreign Policy department conducts research and publishes papers on a wide variety of international political, economic, security, and defense issues. Because its primary audience is the U.S. Congress, it convenes working groups; organizes lectures, debates, and luncheons; and conducts briefings on timely foreign policy, homeland security, and defense issues for members of Congress and their staffs. The Comprehensive Foreign Policy intern compiles reliable research on a variety of United States Foreign Policy issues. In addition, the intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

Homeland and Cyber Security

The terrorist attacks of September 11 struck at the very heart of the American homeland, after which the United States entered a new form of total war in the age of terrorism. America’s security has become a top priority of government at every level. Heritage’s research has become a vital resource for finding solutions that will help make government action most effective. The Homeland Security Foreign Policy intern compiles reliable research on a variety of homeland defense and security issues. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics. Responsibilities also include monitoring the Department of Homeland Security and Congress’ response to the changing threats facing America.

Latin America

The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The Latin America intern reports directly to the Policy Analyst for Latin America. At their direction, the intern will conduct research primarily on Latin America policy issues including correcting the Obama Administration’s Cuba policy, security and development in Central America, the crisis in Venezuela, the implementation of the Colombian peace process, the weakening of democracy and governance in the hemisphere, as well as other issues as they may arise. The intern will be assigned to take notes at congressional hearings, conferences and other events. They will also be asked for support in drafting op-ed’s and written products as well supporting the events and meetings.

Middle East

The Middle East has become perhaps the most crucial regional arena for American foreign policy in the coming years, involving the future of Iraq, the war against terrorism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and international energy security. The Foreign Policy and Defense studies at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The Middle Eastern Foreign Policy intern compiles reliable research on a variety of Middle Eastern political, economic, security issues, and monitoring and analyzing the progress of the War on Terrorism. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

National Security

America must be capable of proactively protecting the nation and its citizens. Our armed forces must be ready to act anywhere in the world where vital national interests are threatened. This can be achieved by providing the military with the resources it needs to keep Americans safe and maintain freedom. The defense and security studies position at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The National Security intern compiles reliable research on a variety of defense issues, primarily on issues involving military readiness, defense budget, and elements of homeland security. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics. Responsibilities also include monitoring defense modernization.

Center for National Defense

Defense Budget

Americans must be capable of proactively protecting the nation and its citizens. Our armed forces must be ready to act anywhere in the world where vital national interests are threatened. This can be achieved by giving the military the resources it needs to keep us safe and maintain freedom. The Defense department at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The Defense Budget Foreign Policy intern compiles reliable research on a variety of defense issues, primarily on issues involving defense budget, national security strategy, defense modernization programs, and Congressional budget legislation. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

Defense Studies

The United States has a Constitutional responsibility to provide for the common defense. The Heritage Foundation supports the efforts to fulfill this responsibility through its advocacy both for a more robust Department of Defense as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. Heritage also argues for a stronger national defense each year through the Index of U.S. Military Strength. The Defense department at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The National Security intern compiles reliable research on a variety of security issues, primarily involving military force sizing and capabilities, national security strategy, defense modernization programs, and Coast Guard policy. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

Strategic Studies

The United States must maintain a strong, safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons deterrent. The task is of a growing importance in a world of multiple nuclear weapon powers hostile to the United States and its allies. Americans, forward deployed troops, and allies need to be protected from ballistic missile attacks of different types and ranges. The Defense department at The Heritage Foundation conducts research and publishes papers which concern these topics. The Strategic Studies Foreign Policy intern compiles reliable research on a variety of defense issues, primarily on issues involving defense budget, national security strategy, defense modernization programs, and Congressional budget legislation. The intern attends, takes notes, and summarizes congressional hearings, conferences, and other events on these topics.

Davis Institute: Asian Studies Center

The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most vital focus areas for U.S. political, economic, and security policy. The Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation conducts research, publishes papers, and hosts public programs on a broad range of Asia-oriented issues. The Asian Studies intern compiles reliable research; attends and take notes at congressional hearings, conferences, and other events; writes short information papers and summaries; and provides general administrative support to the work of the Center.

Center for Data Analysis 

The Center for Data Analysis (CDA) undertakes data-driven research of economic policy issues using macro- and micro- economic models, statistical software, and other tools to empirically analyze government policies. As the numbers department, CDA is central to domestic policy research at The Heritage Foundation covering a wide range of issues, including the state of the economy, healthcare, regulation, and energy/environment. CDA interns help construct and analyze data, prepare research reports, and write blogs highlighting CDA findings. This is a good department for interns with strong economics or math backgrounds, especially ones seeking to continue their studies in professional degrees that require quantitative research experience.

Center for Free Markets & Regulatory Reform

Energy & Environment

Heritage's energy team focuses on opening access to America's energy resources, reducing the regulatory burden on energy industries, addressing climate science and climate regulations, and eliminating government cronyism of all forms to make the energy economy a more market oriented one. We advance those goals through papers, opinion editorials and blogs, meetings with Members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill, outreach and coordination with like-minded organizations, public events and working groups, speeches and media appearances. The intern will experience researching for longer papers as well as fast-paced research for quick turnarounds for a blog or short paper. He or she will have the opportunity to attend conferences and hearings, as well as write on a wide variety of energy topics.

Index of Economic Freedom

The Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform produces the annual Index of Economic Freedom. For over two decades, the Index has measured the impact of liberty and free markets around the globe. Through comprehensive analysis of diverse economies ranging from Hong Kong to North Korea, the Index provides compelling evidence that freer economies are richer, cleaner, and healthier; less prone to violence; and more politically stable. In every region of the world, opportunities for innovation, progress and human development are provided more easily when governments respect and promote the principles of economic freedom. The intern will assist in the production of Index through data-collection and tracking of government reforms around the word. He or she will also have the opportunity to assist analysts with research projects, co-author blogs on pertinent subjects, and attend lectures and hearings.

Regulation & Free Markets

Entrepreneurialism is a fundamental expression of the human spirit, but the unparalleled expansion of the administrative state is crushing that spirit, along with productivity, and economic growth. Heritage is a leader in tracking the number and cost of federal regulations, and advocating for reforms that would impose accountability on Congress and rein in the regulatory overreach of the executive branch. The intern will be responsible for updating Heritage’s regulatory database, composing a daily round-up of regulatory news, and researching rules affecting the environment, finance sector, telecommunications and energy. Past interns have also published articles on regulatory issues for the Daily Signal. He or she will also attend congressional hearings, and policy lectures.

Roe Institute

Budget, Spending, and Retirement Security

Entitlement programs—Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare—are the main drivers of federal spending and debt. Because entitlement spending runs on auto-pilot with automatic increases locked in by each program's governing laws, they present a major threat to limited government. Core federal government priorities, such as defense or national security, must compete for an increasingly smaller share of remaining budget resources. The national debt continues rising, fueled by over-spending in Washington, raising both economic and moral concerns. Heritage research in these areas seeks to show Americans the full picture of the federal budget to build pressure for spending control in Washington. Entitlement reform is a key priority to protect Americans against poverty without burdening younger generations with higher taxes and slow growth, and to enable Americans to control more of their health care and retirement decisions and dollars. The intern will experience researching for longer papers as well as fast-paced research for quick turnarounds for a blog or short paper. He or she will have the opportunity to attend conferences and hearings, and engage in data analysis and research on a wide variety of budget topics.

Monetary Policy

The Federal Reserve’s expansive policies enable the federal government’s deficit spending, thus further jeopardizing future economic prosperity. The conventional wisdom, even among most economists, is that the Federal Reserve is necessary for the economy to function properly. Heritage Research aims to question this proposition and study the effectiveness of monetary policy. The intern will assist with research including, but not limited to, analyzing data regarding the Federal Reserve’s regulatory and monetary policies. This is a good position for interns with a strong analytical and statistics background, especially those who also have a background in finance and/or economics and who wish to continue their studies in a graduate program.

Project for Economic Growth

Economic growth is paramount for the USA to continue to be that “shining city on a hill” that Reagan believed in. Through free market principles, limiting government intervention and allowing individuals to make decisions that work best for themselves and their families, we can spur tremendous, sustainable growth. The Project for Economic growth was developed to be the voice of those who produce and have the dream of growing their enterprise. The intern will assist the director and research associate with research including, but not limited to, analyzing data for job growth, GDP growth, energy, tax, migration patterns within the US, and much more. This is a good position for interns with a strong analytical and statistics background, capable of comparing various data sets, and forming creative charts and graphs in Excel. Those who have a background in finance and/or economics and who wish to continue their studies in a graduate program would also fit well in this internship.

Taxes, Capital Markets, and Entrepreneurship

Burdensome regulations hinder economic growth, and the Federal Reserve’s expansive policies enable expansive deficit spending, thus further jeopardizing future economic prosperity. There must be fundamental tax reform to foster prosperity and fairness, improving the legal and regulatory environment for entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital to launch and grow their businesses. The intern will assist with research into the nature of and impediments to entrepreneurship and economic growth, including, but not limited to, the Federal Reserve’s regulatory and monetary policies.

Center for Principles and Politics

The B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics produces papers and sponsors various seminars and lectures with the objective of teaching up-and-coming policymakers about the intellectual underpinnings of American government, with a focus on; the principles of the American Founding and the U.S. Constitution, the fundamentals of economic liberty, and the basics of conservative thought and public policy. The purpose of these activities is to promote the ideas and policies involved in returning the United States to a condition of principled constitutional government. The Center for Principles and Politics intern helps our analysts with their research needs by performing internet-based and historical research. Additional responsibilities include proofing and editing papers and book projects.

Edwin Meese III Center for Legal & Judicial Studies

The Meese Center promotes appropriate legal and judicial reform and educates government officials, the media, and the public about the U.S. Constitution, statutes, and legal principles. Interns are paired up with one of our legal scholars and produce short- and long-term research and writing projects. Areas of research include civil justice and regulatory reform, overcriminalization, equal protection, voting and election law, religious liberty, antitrust, role of the courts, and judicial issues. Additional responsibilities include attending meetings and congressional hearings, assisting with various lectures and conferences, and general office work as requested.