Presidential Departments
Domestic Policy Council
The Domestic Policy Council (DPC) supervises the development, coordination, and execution of domestic policy in the White House. The DPC additionally offers advice to the President and represents his priorities to Congress. Interns will work closely with staff on specific policy areas including education, energy and the environment, healthcare, immigration, infrastructure, labor, transportation, urban affairs, and veterans’ affairs. Interns may also work alongside the speechwriting department on research and fact-checking.
National Economic Council
The National Economic Council (NEC) coordinates the domestic and international economic policymaking process and provides economic policy advice to the President. The NEC has a wide-ranging policy portfolio, including healthcare, tax and retirement, the financial system, macroeconomics, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, telecommunications, cyber-security, energy and the environment, and trade. Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with NEC staff, assisting with in-depth research, coordinating policy meetings, and providing general administrative support.
The Office of Cabinet Affairs
The Office of Cabinet Affairs is the primary liaison between the President and his Cabinet. Cabinet Affairs coordinates communications, policy, and logistics between the White House and the Cabinet and manages issues that affect multiple federal agencies.
The Office of Digital Strategy
The Office of Digital Strategy uses digital platforms to amplify the President’s message and engage with citizens around the country online. Interns will assist in digital content creation, design, and engagement.
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) is responsible for building relationships with state, county, local, and tribal officials. Interns within this office work alongside staff to build and maintain relationships with governors, tribal leaders, mayors, county executives, and commissioners. IGA interns assist in managing the substantial volume of incoming requests from public officials around the country.
The White House Office of Legislative Affairs
The Office of Legislative Affairs is responsible for advancing the President’s legislative agenda on Capitol Hill. Interns will work alongside staff members in the Senate and House liaison offices by helping notify Senators and Representatives about administration initiatives, assisting with research on legislation and floor activity, and staffing legislative events.
White House Management Office
The White House Management Office manages facilities, operations, and numerous special projects throughout the White House Complex. White House Management Office staff frequently interact with all other White House Offices, answering administrative questions, facilitating the assignment and distribution of staff privileges, and coordinating White House Complex access for visitors.
White House Photo Office
The White House Photo Office documents and captures the history of the presidency. Programming in the White House Photo Office is geared toward candidates who are looking to build leadership skills in photography and photojournalism. Specific intern responsibilities include editing and toning photos, maintaining the photo database, and assisting with various logistical and administrative tasks. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and macOS is a requirement for interns working in the White House Photo Office.
White House Visitors Office
The White House Visitors Office facilitates events on the White House Complex, including White House Tours, seasonal holidays, South Lawn events, and garden tours. Interns will aid the day-to-day functioning of the office, assisting with key organizational initiatives and event planning.
Office of Political Affairs
The Office of Political Affairs (OPA) develops, supports, and advances partnerships in support of the President and his policy agenda. OPA interns will assist in political analysis, opinion research, and direct outreach to key constituencies.
Office of Presidential Advance
The Office of Presidential Advance plans, organizes, and executes presidential events across the country and around the world. Interns can expect to assist in the coordination of presidential travel and events, requiring frequent interaction with White House offices and outside entities.
Office of Presidential Correspondence
The Office of Presidential Correspondence plays a key role in facilitating an open dialogue between the President and the American people. The office’s mission is to listen to and understand constituents’ views, experiences, and ideas, and coordinate a response on behalf of the President. Members of the Office of Presidential Correspondence receive and reply to letters and emails, calls to the White House Comment Line, gifts sent to the President and First Family, requests for Presidential Proclamations and Presidential Messages, greetings, and requests for assistance throughout the Federal Government. Interns will assist Presidential Correspondence staff in the facilitation of these communications.
Office of Presidential Personnel
The Office of Presidential Personnel oversees the selection process for presidential appointments and works to recruit candidates to serve the President in departments and agencies throughout the Executive Branch. Presidential Personnel staff present candidates to the Senate for confirmation after they have been approved by the President and have gone through Personnel’s selection and clearance process. Interns in Presidential Personnel will help staff review candidates, communicate with departments and agencies on personnel matters, and help ensure that the personnel priorities of the Administration are being addressed.
Office of Public Liaison
The Office of Public Liaison (OPL) is the primary line of communication between the White House and the public. OPL communicates with organizations, coalitions, and Americans from all backgrounds. Interns in this office will work alongside staff members to assist building new and maintaining current relationships with organizations, coordinating events, and assisting with office operations.
Office of Speechwriting
The Office of Speechwriting researches, prepares, and writes the President’s speeches. Interns in this office will assist with research and have the opportunity to witness the process of presidential speechwriting firsthand.
Office of the First Lady
The Office of the First Lady provides assistance to President Trump and supports her role and duties as First Lady of the Unites States. Interns work alongside the Office of the First Lady team to support her initiatives both on the White House Complex and across the nation.
Office of the Staff Secretary
The Office of the Staff Secretary prepares the daily briefing book, which requires close coordination with each component of the White House. The Staff Secretary ensures that the details surrounding presidential actions, speeches, events, correspondence, and press releases are properly vetted. Interns can expect to assist in collecting essential, time-sensitive information from White House components and reviewing, revising, and finalizing memoranda for the President. Interns must exhibit strong attention to detail and have a pro-active mentality, as well as organizational, editing, and interpersonal skills.
Office of the Vice President
The Office of the Vice President supports the Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance.
The following offices and departments within the Office of the Vice President provide internship opportunities:
- Office of the Second Lady
- Office of Administration
- Office of Advance for the Vice President
- Office of Communications
- Office of Counsel to the Vice President
- Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Office of Domestic Policy
- Office of Correspondence
Office of Communications
The Office of Communications crafts the message the President delivers to the world. Communications staff collaborate with various White House offices to strategically plan core messaging initiatives and strategically advance the agenda of the President. Interns will learn about and work in different areas of communication, including research, broadcast and digital.
The White House Press Office
The Press Office works with members of the media from around the world. Interns will work in different areas of the department, including national press, communications, and messaging. Interns should have an interest in media relations, strategic messaging, or political communications. Applicants are expected to keep up with the 24-hour news cycle and will be working in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
Office of White House Counsel
The Office of White House Counsel advises the President, the Executive Office of the President, and the White House staff on legal issues pertaining to the President and the White House. The office sits at the intersection of law, policy, and politics. Interns will assist White House Counsel staff on a variety of research and administrative matters.
Office of Presidential Scheduling
The Office of President Scheduling is responsible for managing and coordinating the President’s meetings, public engagements, and daily activities both on and off the White House Complex. Scheduling coordinates with various components, including the White House Military Office, United States Secret Service, senior White House staff, external organizations and others, to create an agenda that strategically advances the President’s priorities and effectively serves the American people.
White House Travel Office
The White House Travel Office’s (WHTO) mission is to provide administrative and logistical support for the President, both domestically and internationally. The Travel Office’s responsibilities include travel budgets, hotel accommodations, air/ground transportation, per diems, passports, and travel visas. Additionally, the WHTO facilitates news coverage of the President by providing logistical support to the White House Press Corps in conjunction with the President’s travel. Interns for the White House Travel Office will join a committed team who require organization skills and attention to detail for various logistical and administrative tasks.
Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy
The Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP) advises the President on policies to increase economic growth, decrease the trade deficit, and strengthen the United States manufacturing and the defense industrial base. The OTMP works on a variety of matters including strengthening and expanding “Buy American, Hire American” laws and promoting American manufacturing through tariffs and other trade actions. Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with office staff, assisting with in-depth research, coordinating policy meetings, and providing general administrative support.