The Young Leaders Program
Washington D.C.’s best internship program
About
At The Heritage Foundation, we are committed to investing in America’s next generation of leaders. Each semester, we hire and pay 50+ young conservatives who are committed to the principles of individual freedom, free enterprise, limited government, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Young Leaders Program has grown to become one of the top policy internships in the nation. We prepare our interns for their future roles as conservative leaders. Individual department placement includes foreign, economic, and domestic policy research, law and constitutional studies, communications, government relations, and others.
Past Young Leaders Program alumni include Senator Josh Hawley, Senator Tom Cotton, and Judge Naomi Rao, among others.
Internship Semester Dates
- Fall 2025 Program: September 8 – December 5
- Spring 2026 Program: January 12 – April 10
- Summer 2026 Program: May 11 – August 7
- Fall 2026 Program: September 8 – December 4
Internship Application Links
- Fall 2025 —APPLY NOW
- Hiring is on a rolling basis for remaining openings.
- Spring 2026—APPLY NOW
- Hiring on a rolling basis
- Summer 2026—APPLY NOW
Programming
The Internship Semester Includes:
-The Boyce-Haller First Principles Lecture Series, a weekly briefing on the foundations of American political thought.
-Weekly briefings with Heritage policy experts on foreign, economic, and domestic policy issues, including:
- Education
- Rule of Law
- Border Security
- Election Integrity
- Spending and Inflation
- China
- Big Tech
- Protecting Life
-Heritage events featuring prominent conservative leaders, authors, and policymakers.
-Practical skills workshops on professional development, writing op-eds, job searching, and networking.
-Personalized resume and career consultation with The Heritage Foundation’s Job Bank.
-Networking with other young conservatives and professionals through discussions, receptions, and reading groups.
-Hearing from experienced professionals who have worked on Capitol Hill and in presidential administrations.
-Trips to the U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, and more!
Internship Details:
- Our interns are paid $18 per hour.
- All internships take place at The Heritage Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- Heritage Interns are given priority for intern housing in the E.W. Richardson Building. While we do not pay for housing, Intern Housing offers an affordable rate in a prime location—right next door.
- Interns may work part-time or full-time in the spring and fall; all interns must work full-time in the summer.
- Undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students and early-career professionals are encouraged to apply.
- International students who have obtained work-authorization in the United States may be considered.
