PGPF Fiscal Internship Program in Washington, DC
About the Program
Overview
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s Fiscal Internship program engages students in fiscal policy by providing them with first-hand research experience at public policy institutions in Washington, DC. Over the summer, PGPF Fiscal Interns will have the opportunity to:
- Gain substantive policy research experience at a leading organization
- Work under the direct supervision of a respected scholar
- Join a diverse community of experts and students interested in budgetary and economic issues
Fiscal interns will be expected to live and work in Washington, DC, for the duration of the 2026 fiscal internship.
Program Description
The PGPF Fiscal Internship program offers full-time paid internships at leading policy organizations to a select group of college and graduate students interested in fiscal policy. Interns live and work in Washington, DC, for ten weeks during the summer while gaining professional experience, skills, and contacts that will serve them throughout their careers.
PGPF Fiscal Interns will:
- Work as a research intern for ten weeks at a leading policy organization
- Receive a $7,400 stipend for the duration of the summer
- Attend seminars on fiscal issues featuring leading scholars from participating organizations
- Participate in other social, educational, and career-oriented events
Organizations
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation partners with think tanks in Washington, DC, to provide interns with real world experience working on national fiscal issues. The institutions’ work spans a variety of issues including healthcare, Social Security, taxes, and economic policy.
When applying, candidates may indicate a preference for placement at one or more organizations. The following is the current list of participating organizations in the PGPF Fiscal Internship Program in Washington, DC:
- American Action Forum: The American Action Forum is a forward-looking policy institute dedicated to keeping America strong, free and prosperous. It seeks to promote common-sense, innovative, and solutions-based policies that will reform government, challenge outdated assumptions, and create a smaller, smarter government that will serve its citizens better.
- The Bipartisan Policy Center: The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that combines the best ideas from both parties to promote health, security, and opportunity for all Americans. Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchel, BPC drives principled and politically viable policy solutions through the power of rigorous analysis, painstaking negotiation, and aggressive advocacy. As the only Washington, DC-based think tank that actively promotes bipartisanship, BPC works to address the key challenges facing the nation.
- Brookings Institution: The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions. For 100 years, Brookings has analyzed current and emerging issues and produced new ideas that matter for the nation and the world.
- Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization committed to educating the public about issues that have significant fiscal policy impact. The Committee is made up of some of the nation's leading budget experts, including many of the past Chairmen and Directors of the Congressional Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Federal Reserve Board.
- Economic Policy Institute: The Economic Policy Institute's mission is to achieve shared prosperity by raising the economic status of low- and middle-income Americans. To this end, EPI works to reshape the way policymakers think about the economy to persuade them to adopt policies that are good for working Americans.
- Employee Benefit Research Institute: The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) — a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization — was created in 1978 for the purpose of contributing to sound employee benefit programs and public policy through independent, objective, fact-based research and education.
- Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies: The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.
- KFF: KFF is a leader in health policy analysis, health journalism and communication, and is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people.
- Mercatus Center: The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas — bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems. A university-based research center, Mercatus advances knowledge about how markets work to improve people’s lives by training graduate students, conducting research, and applying economics to offer solutions to society’s most pressing problems. Our mission is to generate knowledge and understanding of the institutions that affect the freedom to prosper and to find sustainable solutions that overcome the barriers preventing individuals from living free, prosperous, and peaceful lives.
- Niskanen Center: The Niskanen Center works to change public policy through direct engagement with the policymaking process; looks to develop and promote pragmatic proposals for policymakers, build coalitions to facilitate action, and marshal the most convincing arguments in support of our agenda.
- Progressive Policy Institute: The Progressive Policy Institute's Center for Funding America’s Future works to promote a fiscally responsible public investment agenda that fosters robust and inclusive economic growth. To that end, the Center champions "radically pragmatic" proposals for strengthening public investments in the foundation of our economy, modernizing federal health and retirement programs to reflect an aging society, transforming our tax code to reward work over wealth, and putting the national debt on a downward trajectory.
- R Street Institute: Founded in 2012, the R Street Institute is the leading think tank engaged in policy research and outreach in support of free markets and limited, effective government. We work to bolster American innovation, increase consumer choice and protect individual liberty and believe in smaller, smarter government.
- Tax Foundation: Since 1937, Tax Foundation's principled research, insightful analysis, and engaged experts have informed smarter tax policy in the U.S. and internationally. For over 80 years, our mission has remained the same: to improve lives through tax policies that lead to greater economic growth and opportunity.
- Urban Institute/Tax Policy Center: The Tax Policy Center (TPC) is a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, both nonpartisan research organizations in Washington, DC. (This listing relates to the Urban Institute.) The Center is made up of nationally recognized experts in tax, budget, and social policy who have served at the highest levels of government. TPC provides timely, accessible analysis and facts about tax policy to policymakers, journalists, citizens, and researchers.
Applying
Applications for the 2026 PGPF Fiscal Internship Program are open from December 12, 2025 to January 25, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact us at fiscalinternship@pgpf.org.
Eligibility
Rising juniors, rising seniors, and current graduate students are eligible to apply. Students must have taken at least two courses in economics, math, statistics or political science, and have a working fluency with numbers. Experience with Microsoft Excel is highly recommended.
PhD candidates and graduate students in medical school are not eligible to apply. Applicants who have completed all coursework regardless of academic program (undergraduate or graduate) are not eligible to apply. Noneligible applications will not be read.
Required Application Materials
- Résumé
- Personal Statement
- Statement of Policy Interest
- Unofficial copy of school transcript
- Contact information for two academic or professional references
Application Deadlines
- December 12, 2025: Applications Open
- January 25, 2026: Application Deadline
- April 2026: Interns Notified of Selection
- June 1 – August 7, 2026: Fiscal Internship in Session
What We Look For
This internship is ideal for upper-level college and graduate students with:
- An academic background in economics, political science, public policy, public administration, or a related field
- A demonstrated interest in fiscal and economic policy
- An open mind and willingness to engage with those who share different opinions and beliefs
- A natural curiosity for learning new things
- A desire to live and work independently in Washington, DC.
The Selection Process
After your application is submitted, the Peterson Foundation staff will check your application for completeness. Then all completed applications will be made available to the host organizations. Host organizations will be responsible for assessing, interviewing, and hiring candidates from that point. Candidates may be contacted directly by one or more of the host scholars for an interview. Interviews typically take place in March and April. If offered an internship by a host scholar, applicants will have 5 days to decide to accept or reject the offer.
We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
FAQ
Previous Recipients
Testimonials
"The program really gave me a better sense of how top-notch think tanks function. Scholars rely on people like interns to do much of the background work for any project, and this work ends up influencing the final project, so even lower level people have great power to shape policy in DC!"
–Fiscal Intern, Brookings Institution
"The Fiscal Internship Program was an invaluable opportunity to learn about fiscal policy and engage in a meaningful way with other students with similar interest and experts in the field"
–Fiscal Intern, Brookings Institution
"Great exposure to ideas and people"
–Fiscal Intern, Economic Policy Institute
"I was really glad to have the opportunity to work at an organization whose work I’ve been following. My team here was great and they were really committed to giving me substantive work to do."
–Fiscal Intern, Kaiser Family Foundation
"My favorite thing about the internship was the opportunity to hear from speakers at various different think tanks. The range of opinions and perspectives was enlightening."
–Fiscal Intern, American Action Forum
"I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from a wide variety of other top policy organizations in DC and learn about their research. It gave me a better picture of both the policy issues and career opportunities in various policy fields."
–Fiscal Intern, National Governors Association
"The PGPF program was a phenomenal internship experience overall. I am ending the internship knowing a significant amount more on budget issues than I did on my first day of interning. I would absolutely recommend this program to my classmates and peers."
–Fiscal Intern, Economic Policy Institute
"I would absolutely recommend this program, the internship was fantastic, as were the seminars. I learned so much."
–Fiscal Intern, Bipartisan Policy Center
"The PGPF Fiscal Internship Program solidified my passion for economics and public policy. I definitely see myself pursuing this field in the future."
–Fiscal Intern, American Action Forum
"This summer, I did not feel like an intern, I am part of the team with the same respect and responsibilities as a full team member. My supervisors’ knowledge in the field is invaluable and they are always willing to pass that knowledge on to others."
–Fiscal Intern, Kaiser Family Foundation
"My host scholar was approachable, trusted me with significant responsibility, and encouraged my independent research exploration on the topics I was interested in. He was a great mentor throughout the summer."
–Fiscal Intern, Center for American Progress