Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program – Summer 2027
The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship program is an exciting paid opportunity for students of all majors to gain professional experience in federal and state government. Since 2022, the program has placed highly skilled talent from across the country into government, offering students the opportunity to apply their educational training to public service work.
Explore the opportunities for Summer 2027 below.
Program Status
Summer 2027 Application Opening October 13, 2026
Applications for the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Summer 2027 cohort will open on Tuesday, October 13. Please check back for updates.
Future Leaders University Partnerships
Atlanta University Center Consortium – Center for Excellence in Public/Government Service
To qualify for the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) and Center for Excellence’s partnership, applicants should have completed the A.T.I. Summer Leadership Training in Summer 2026 or earlier AND be a currently enrolled college student.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from AUCC for Summer 2027.
Binghamton University
All Binghamton students are eligible under this partnership.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from the Fleishman Career Center for Summer 2027.
The Five Colleges of Ohio (Ohio 5 Consortium)
Students attending the following colleges are eligible under this partnership:
Denison University, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, and The College of Wooster.
Students with a graduation date of December 2026 or earlier are not eligible to apply.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from their university for Summer 2027.
Northeastern University, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
Graduate students and undergraduates enrolled in PlusOne programs in Northeastern’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs are eligible under this partnership.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from Northeastern’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs for Summer 2027.
Rice University
All Rice University undergraduate School of Social Sciences declared majors are eligible under this Partnership
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from Rice University for Summer 2027.
Rutgers University – Scarlet Service in Washington, DC
Rutgers University students must submit their application for the Future Leaders program in conjunction with an application to Rutgers Scarlet Service in Washington, DC and/or the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship concurrently with Rutgers Scarlet Service in Washington, DC or the Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award Program will receive compensation directly through those programs.
St. John’s College – Annapolis
All St. John’s College – Annapolis students are eligible under this partnership.
Prior to applying to Future Leaders, please email Matt Gibeson in the Career Development Office about your intent to apply – matthew.gibeson@sjc.edu.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from St. John’s College for Summer 2027.
St. Olaf College
All St. Olaf students with a graduation date of December 2027 or later are eligible under this partnership.
Current or past students in the Public Affairs Conversation Program are especially invited to apply to the Future Leaders Program. While all students are encouraged to apply, a slight preference will be given to past or current Public Affairs Conversation Program students.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $7,000 directly from St. Olaf College for Summer 2027.
University of Chicago
Only undergraduate students from the University of Chicago are eligible under this partnership.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from UChicago Career Advancement for Summer 2027.
University of Pennsylvania – Fels Institute of Government
Full-time Master of Public Administration (MPA) students at the Fels Institute of Government and select Robert A. Fox Leadership program fellows are eligible under this partnership.
For Fels students, only those who have not yet received the Public Leadership and Service Stipend (PLAS) are eligible to apply.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,000 directly from the Fels Institute for Summer 2027.
University of Richmond
Only undergraduate students who qualify for Spider Internship Funds are eligible under this Partnership. Please check the UR Summer Fellowships website for full Summer 2027 Spider Fund requirements and deadlines.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of at least $5,000 directly from the University of Richmond Career Services for Summer 2027.
Wellesley College
Only current sophomores and juniors from Wellesley College are eligible to apply. Students funded for this program are subject to College internship requirements and policies.
Students placed in a Future Leaders internship will receive a stipend of $5,500 directly from Wellesley College for Summer 2027.
University Partner Funding
University partners will provide funding directly to students placed with the Future Leaders program in Summer 2027 as detailed in the partner descriptions above.
University partner funding is the primary and only expected form of compensation for Future Leaders internships. Interns should not expect to receive additional compensation or benefits from government agencies during their internship.
Summer 2027 Program Tracks and AI Focus
For students majoring in a social science (political science, public policy, economics, etc.), a Future Leaders internship may focus on using AI tools to implement or streamline government programs or researching and writing policy memos on how agencies can use AI technologies.
For students majoring in more technical subjects (computer science, data analytics, IT, etc.), a Future Leaders internship may focus on using AI tools to write or improve code, building AI bots for agency projects, or using AI to analyze large data sets.
Students who attend a partner school will be considered for AI-focused government internships within the three program tracks listed below. Students from all majors are welcome to apply for these opportunities.
Data Science
Data science positions may include a focus on analyzing public-sector data, reporting on data trends to inform agency decision making, and building tools to improve public programs and services. Interns will gain skills in data analysis, statistical analysis, data visualization, programming, data cleaning and management, and communicating findings to internal and external audiences.
Public Administration
Public Administration positions may include a focus on supporting public-facing programs, researching and implementing policies, and analyzing budget and financial data. Interns will gain skills in project and program management, policy analysis, research, writing and editing.
Public Interest Technology & AI
Public Interest Technology & AI positions may include a focus on operations technology-focused policy, AI policy and design. Interns will gain skills in writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. Candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology and AI for public good.
Future Leaders AI Internship Examples (2025-2026)
Read about past Future Leaders internships in AI at the federal and state levels below!
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Chief Information Officer
• Streamlined the employee onboarding process, helping cut the time it took to bring on new hires from 100+ days down to a pace competitive with the private sector.
• Reviewed different technology policies to help guide efforts to modernize the agency’s tech guidelines.
State of California
Department of Cannabis Control
• Reviewed and updated agency user guides for the online systems used by California businesses to complete registration and licensing.
• Supported the early development of the Department’s accessibility program by reviewing existing ADA materials, identifying gaps, and developed an outline for future training.
• Tested initial versions of an AI travel agent, as well as provided feedback on an AI editorial agent developed to support the public website.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Policy Development and Research
• Rebuilt the team’s project-tracking system.
• Wrote 60+ pages of official procedure guides to standardize how the division handles its core processes.
• Designed a new internal website and 46+ custom logos across three divisions.
• Built an interactive training case study based on two real internal investigations.
State of Maine
Department of the Secretary of State, Finance and Administrative Services
• Created documentation for existing Python-based reports used by the Finance unit.
• Built an initial data dictionary for the POS and MCRS databases.
• Supported development of process maps for selected finance workflows.
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources Programs
• Used AI tools to analyze public comments on proposed federal regulations.
• Supported agency regulatory review and policy analysis.
State of Maryland
Maryland Public Television
• Shadowed and interviewed teams to identify workflows AI can optimize.
• Designed resources to educate and encourage these teams to adopt AI solutions.
• Created and led 10-20 minute weekly virtual AI training/demos for any interested staff members utilizing Google Gemini workspace products.
Agency Partners
Candidates will apply to the Future Leaders program broadly and if advanced to the next round, will receive communication from the Partnership about participating agencies and their anticipated portfolios/placements.
To see a list of past Future Leaders agency partners, please visit the Future Leaders homepage.
What happens after candidates submit their application?
Note that not all program tracks will be offered by multiple federal and state agencies — some tracks may only be available through a single agency.
Summer 2027 Timeline
- October 13, 2026: Application opens.
- November 27, 2026: Application closes.
- January 8, 2027: Applicants are notified of eligibility status. Eligible applicants will receive instructions on next steps.
- January – March 2027: Virtual interviews conducted and offers sent to candidates.
- March – May 2027: Background check process begins.
- May 2027: Virtual intern and supervisor orientations.
- June 7, 2027: Internship Begins.
- August 13 – 27, 2027: Internship Ends.
Internship start and end dates have some flexibility, depending on each student’s schedule, and is agreed upon with the intern supervisor.
Program Benefits
- A 10-12-week summer internship at a federal or state government agency.
- A stipend or compensation provided by the intern’s university (details in the University Partnerships section above).
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the summer.
Program Eligibility
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- Enrolled at a Summer 2027 university partner institution. Students graduating in December 2026 are not eligible to apply.
- Please review the specific eligibility requirements outlined above for each university partner.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA at or above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks. These focus areas are open to students of all majors and do not require students to be pursuing careers exclusively in tech.
- Data Science
- Public Administration
- Public Interest Technology & AI
IMPORTANT: Please check the specific conditions outlined above for university partner eligibility requirements.
FAQs – Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program
Who is eligible for the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship program?
Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application submission and enrolled at a Summer 2027 university partner institution. Applicants must meet their university’s specific eligibility requirements, as outlined above. Students graduating in December 2026 are not eligible to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate strong academic achievement and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
If I do not attend a university partner school, am I still able to apply to Future Leaders?
Unfortunately, any students who attend a non-university partner school are not able to apply for the Future Leaders program.
What kind of resume and transcript do I need for my application?
For the Summer 2027 application, a standard 1-2 page resume is recommended for all applicants. There is no need to follow federal resume guidelines for your Future Leaders resume.
Unofficial transcripts with your latest grades and class registrations should be used for Summer 2027 applications.
Can I add a letter of recommendation or other documents to my application?
For the Summer 2027 application, only resumes and unofficial transcripts will be accepted as supporting documentation.
How much is the stipend?
University partners will provide stipend funding as detailed in the partner descriptions above.
University partner funding is the primary and only expected form of compensation for Future Leaders internships.
Are all internship opportunities based in the Washington, D.C., area?
For Summer 2027, in-person internship opportunities may be located in the following areas:
– Washington, DC metro area (includes surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia)
– Baltimore or Annapolis, Maryland
– Sacramento, California
– Augusta, Maine
– other locations as available
Can my internship be fully remote?
Fully remote internship options for Future Leaders may be limited as more government internship opportunities are now offered in-person or hybrid only. Government agencies will ultimately decide if an internship opportunity can be offered on a fully remote basis.
Who are the participating agencies?
Participating agencies for the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program vary by term and will be shared with eligible Summer 2027 candidates in mid-January, ahead of the start of interviews.
Can I choose my agency placement?
No, unfortunately, candidates cannot choose their agencies but their agency and location preferences will be taken into account. Students apply to the Future Leaders program generally with an interest in federal or state government, rather than to a specific agency.
Participating agencies will be confirmed by mid-January 2027.
Does the Future Leaders program provide housing?
The Partnership for Public Service does not provide housing for the Future Leaders program.
