In order to attract interns. who look like America, White House will pay them

WHITE HOUSE

As this intern cohort during the Trump White House demonstrates, the program has difficulty attracting women and interns of color.

In an effort to attract interns who reflect America's diversity, the White House Internship Program will be offering a salary to it's interns. Historically, the highly coveted internships were unpaid.

President Biden and Vice President Harris announced the launch of the White House Internship Program and that, for the first time in recent history, White House interns will be paid. The first session will commence in Fall 2022.

Too often, unpaid federal internships have been a barrier to hardworking and talented students and professionals who simply could not afford going unpaid during the intern session resulting in a program predominantly white and upper middle-class and higher. 

"A White House internship is the equivalent of a Rhodes Scholarship, in terms of prestige," said Carlos Mark Vera, the executive director of Pay Our Interns, which has lobbied to make federal internships paid positions. He's also a former unpaid intern at the White House. "You do the White House internship, you're pretty set. Most doors open," he told Insider.

This significant milestone of paying White House interns will help remove barriers to equal opportunity for low-income students and first-generation professionals at the beginnings of their careers and help to ensure that those who receive internships at the White House—and who will be a significant part of the leadership pipeline across the entire federal government—reflect the diversity of America.

Interns will be paid $750 per week,  making the maximum hourly rate $21.42, during the 14-week program. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week in-person, according to NPR. However, living in Washington, D.C., can be expensive. Rent alone will cost anywhere from $350 a week and up, according to NPR.

Congress has been paying its interns for several years. While pay was supposed to increase the diversity of candidates — a goal shared by the White House — a report from Pay Our Interns, a nonprofit founded by two previously unpaid Hill interns, found racial and ethnic representation among paid positions has not increased.

The funds for paying interns come from bipartisan legislation that the President was proud to sign earlier this year.

Interns in the Biden White House have been noticeably absent due to COVID-10 restrictions and most of the staff working at home. That is about to change.

The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House and furthering the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration.

The slots are highly sought, offering the chance to rub elbows with some powerful men and women at the highest level while contributing to the success of an administration. 

Some noteworthy former White House interns have gone onto prominent roles in national politics and media, including longtime Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Casro, Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn, Fox News’ Neil Cavuto, NBC News’ Brian Williams  and former deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco.

Interested candidates can find the Program’s online application at WH.gov/intern. The website also features additional information about the Program, including a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. 

The application for the Fall 2022 session began Monday, June 6 and will close on Friday, June 24.

Each year, leaders from around the country participate in the White House Internship Program to dedicate their time, energy, and experience to serve the country through public service.

The Fall 2022 session will be hosted in-person on the White House campus. Program leadership will continue to monitor the public health landscape related to COVID-19 and will adapt the Program’s approach in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. All interns will be required to attest to their vaccination status and must adhere to any White House COVID-19 protocols.

The Fall 2022 session will be a 14-week program, beginning on Monday, September 12 and ending on Friday, December 16. Selected applicants will be notified the week of August 8.

Program participants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years or older before the first day of the Program, and meet at least one of the three following criteria:

1. Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution)
2. Graduated from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university (two- to four-year institution) no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program
3. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces who possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and has served on active duty, for any length of time, no more than two years prior to the first day of the Program

The White House Internship Program application and additional information about the Program can be found at WH.gov/intern.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.