CBO summer internships provide an excellent opportunity for graduate students to participate in CBO's analysis and to observe budget and economic policymaking at close hand. These paid internships are located in Washington, D.C. and normally last 10 weeks.
Meet CBO’s 2018 Interns. For more information, please contact Nancy Fahey at 202-226-2628 or at careers@cbo.gov.
CBO is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. CBO encourages women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications for the summer internship program?
You should:
- be pursuing a graduate degree in economics, public policy, health policy, finance, or a related field
- have solid writing skills and the ability communicate clearly and concisely
- have exceptional interpersonal and analytical skills
- be familiar with computer programming, statistics, econometrics, or other quantitative methods
Often, CBO also seeks summer interns in other disciplines, such as budget and financial management, information technology, communications, and human resources. Qualifications and deadlines for those positions differ. Applications for those internships should be submitted through careers@cbo.gov.
Can noncitizens apply?
CBO may employ individuals who are not U.S. citizens if they are permanent residents of the United States who are seeking citizenship, as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B). Please review the citizenship requirements or contact CBO Human Resources at careers@cbo.gov to determine employment eligibility before submitting an application.
How does CBO select interns?
CBO selects interns on the basis of:
- academic achievement
- relevance of your academic training to CBO's work
- relevant work experience
When are interns selected?
Applications are reviewed in March and selections are completed by the first week in April. We inform all candidates to whom we are unable to extend an internship by email.
What do CBO interns do?
In addition to contributing to CBO’s analysis in one of CBO’s divisions, interns participate in an educational program that includes briefings on the work that we do and the way we do it. CBO’s interns also attend seminars, including the Congressional Summer Intern Lecture Series, which has featured former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and journalist Cokie Roberts.
What projects have CBO interns worked on?
Recent CBO interns have contributed to the following cost estimates and publications:
- Testimony on the Status of the Highway Trust Fund and Options for Paying for Highway Spending
- H.R. 5226, Appalachian Veterans Outreach Improvement Act
- H.R. 5138, International Megan's Law of 2010
- Social Security Policy Options
- The Long-Term Budget Outlook
- Characteristics and Pay of Federal Civilian Employees
How can I prepare for a CBO internship?
Previous interns describe the following experiences and skills as valuable in preparing for their CBO internships:
- course work in economics, public finance, public budgeting, microeconomics, econometrics, and public health
- projects involving SAS (or other statistical programs) and large data sets
- independent research
- strong writing skills
- interest in understanding the federal budget process
- other policy internships and participation in student government
Does CBO accept interns for the fall or spring semesters?
Only occasionally does CBO offer internships during the academic year. You can register to receive internship job alerts in the event that a fall or spring semester opportunity becomes available.