Internships

As a legal summer associate with CBO’s Office of General Counsel, I significantly expanded my experience working with different areas of the law uncommon in many other legal internship roles. I was surprised and delighted by the amount of constitutional law that is applied to many issues that come before OGC. Additionally, I worked on more statutory law research than I have in the past, and I greatly appreciate the experience with appropriations law and processes that I would likely find nowhere else. Several important Supreme Court cases came out during my internship—including Loper Bright and Corner Post, among others—that required thorough analysis to assist the diverse duties of CBO staff. All those experiences provided opportunities to practice and develop legal research and writing skills going into my last year of law school.

As a summer associate with the CBO’s National Security Division, I conducted research on performance trends in aging cargo and tanker aircraft. This experience greatly enhanced my ability to utilize Python for data analysis and visualization while strengthening my capacity to respond to feedback and lead independent research projects. The dynamic and supportive work environment, combined with exceptional mentorship from [staff ranging from] division heads to assistant analysts, promoted continuous learning and provided invaluable professional development. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from such dedicated professionals while engaging in truly rewarding work.

As a summer intern with the Labor, Income Security, and Long-Term Analysis Division, I worked on a report detailing the long-term impacts of Medicaid eligibility for children. I focused on the implications of Medicaid expansions on later-life participation in other safety-net programs. That work allows CBO to better illustrate the outcomes of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage for children, which include higher earnings and improved health in adulthood. I enjoyed the collaborative experience at CBO and the opportunity to observe and contribute to policy-relevant research. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in learning more about analyzing the efficacy of U.S. public policies.

During my internship at CBO, I worked in the Financial Analysis Division, where my project involved improving a model used to estimate the budgetary costs of mortgage guarantee programs operated by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). My primary focus was on refining some assumptions within the model and evaluating the impact of loan modification programs on the severity of losses. This experience provided me with the opportunity to work on large, complex financial datasets and significantly improved my proficiency in Python for data processing and econometric modeling. I gained great insights into the mortgage market, and the fiscal implications of housing policy. I also enjoyed collaborating with a team of experienced economists, which improved my ability to communicate technical findings. Overall, my internship at CBO profoundly shaped my research and career aspirations by exposing me to a diverse array of potential research questions. I am truly grateful to CBO for giving me such an enriching opportunity.

During my summer internship at the Congressional Budget Office, I had the privilege of working in the Budget Analysis Division. This experience allowed me to engage with various subunits, including natural resources, health, defense, and more. This diverse exposure broadened my perspective and provided me with a deep understanding of the budget analysis process, the legislative process in Congress, and the intricacies of comprehensive economic analysis.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the CBO this summer. I gained invaluable knowledge, developed critical skills, and built lasting professional relationships. This internship was a transformative experience, and I highly recommend it to everyone.