Executive branch
This page lists resources, fellowships, agency profiles, and application advice for understanding and working in US federal agencies or the White House.
Executive branch resources
Job boards
- USAJobs.gov, the government’s job board for agencies (see these guides)
- AI.gov/apply (AI-related opportunities in government; we recommend filling out the expression of interest form on the page)
- Federal Internship Finder, Partnership for Public Service
- Federal Jobs Coach, a custom GPT agent trained to summarize USAJobs postings and review your resume
- Paid: Tom Manatos Jobs, focus on DC policy (e.g. Congress, agencies)
- Tech and Innovation Public Sector Job Board (weekly)
Websites
- GoGovernment resources, Partnership for Public Service
- Department of Defense Civilian Careers
- TechToGov, Tech Talent Project
- Digital Policy Guide, a guide to US information technology law and policy
Articles
Newsletters
- GovExec Today, Government Executive
- Politico’s newsletters, especially Playbook, West Wing Playbook (White House), and National Security Daily
- Partnership for Public Service newsletter
- Statecraft, Institute for Progress
Books
- The Great Courses: Understanding the US Government (Audible) (2020)
- Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better (2023)
- Hack Your Bureaucracy: Get Things Done No Matter What Your Role on Any Team (2022)
- The Art of Policymaking: Tools, Techniques and Processes in the Modern Executive Branch (2016)
- The National Security Enterprise: Navigating the Labyrinth (2017)
- Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy (2019)
- Executive Policymaking: The Role of OMB in the Presidency (2020) (JSTOR)
- Running the World. The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power (2006)
- The Federal Budget: Politics, Policy, Process (2000)
Podcasts
- Gov Actually, FedScoop (not active anymore, but with a 50+ episode archive)
- Watchdog Report, Government Accountability Office
- Transition Lab, Partnership for Public Service
- Stories from the Backchannel, Center for a New American Security
- The 80,000 Hours Podcast has in-depth episodes about policy work and career tips with former executive branch officials Beth Cameron, Andy Weber, Tom Kalil, and Bonnie Jenkins
Executive branch fellowships
The following fellowship programs conduct placements in the executive branch (see also our full fellowship database for >50 opportunities and this federal agency specific fellowship database with >150 opportunities):
- Horizon Fellowship (Horizon Institute for Public Service) – a 6-24 month full-time US emerging technology policy fellowship facilitating job placements in the US executive branch, Congress, and think tanks for early- and mid-career individuals. (Note that this website is a project of the Horizon Institute for Public Service, which also runs the Horizon Fellowship.)
- AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – a 12-month fellowship in DC for STEM PhD holders with four separate tracks, placing fellows within the executive branch, judicial branch, legislative branch, or in a nonprofit.
- Presidential Management Fellowship – A 2-year full-time fellowship for graduate degree holders in any of various executive agencies.
- McCain Strategic Defense Fellowship (Department of Defense) – 1-year full-time “civilian fellowship program designed to provide leadership development for the commencement of a career track toward senior leadership” in the DOD for graduate degree holders.
- White House Fellows – A 1-year full-time fellowship for individuals from diverse disciplines.
- Presidential Innovation Fellowship – A 1-2 year full-time fellowship for mid-to-senior-level technology experts.
- US Digital Corps – A 2-year full-time fellowship for early-career technologists.
- Epidemic Intelligence Service (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – a “2-year post-graduate fellowship in applied epidemiology…EIS officers help public health officials investigate and control infectious disease outbreaks”
- Health Policy Fellowship (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) – a 1-year full-time executive branch job placement program focused on health and biosecurity policy for mid-career professionals.
- Graduate Fellowship Program (National Nuclear Security Administration) – A 1-year, full-time nuclear security fellowship in the executive branch for graduate and postgraduate students or early-career individuals.
- Impact Fellowship (Federation of American Scientists) – “Impact Fellows are serving across a variety of federal agencies in roles that augment existing government teams as they confront some of the greatest scientific and social challenges of our time.”
Federal agency profiles
These guides provide information on specific federal agencies working on issues relevant to AI policy. These profiles are works in progress; in the future, we plan to create profiles on additional AI-relevant agencies and profiles focused on other emerging technology policy areas.
Department of Commerce
Commerce promotes US economic growth and competitiveness through diverse roles in data, innovation, and industry support. It plays a key role in AI, overseeing standard-setting and semiconductor manufacturing and exports. Central components include BIS for export controls and NIST for AI standards and semiconductor funding.
Department of Energy
The DOE oversees energy policy, scientific research, and the nuclear arsenal, being the largest US government funder of physical science research. It significantly contributes to science and technology development and policy, including AI, particularly via its national labs.
Department of Homeland Security
DHS is integral to US national security, handling cybersecurity, counterterrorism, border security, and disaster response. DHS’s role in AI policy is growing, focusing on potential security threats in cybersecurity, election security, and critical infrastructure protection.
Department of State
State oversees US foreign policy, negotiating treaties, managing diplomatic missions, and representing the US in international bodies. In this capacity, State contributes to technology policy, which is becoming increasingly important in diplomacy.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is an independent federal agency of the US government with a dual mission to promote fair competition and protect American consumers from predatory or misleading business practices. It will likely play a major role in AI regulation.
If you’re interested in seeing how different government agencies use AI, see these lists of AI use cases.
Federal agency application advice
Interviewing for federal positions
Job interviews with federal government agencies differ significantly from the private and nonprofit sectors. This article covers interview preparation, the scoring system, common mistakes to avoid, and what to expect during and after the interview.
Understanding federal job announcements and USAJOBS.gov
- How to Use USAJOBS, GoGovernment
- USAJOBS Help Center, USAJOBS.gov
- Federal Government Hiring Playbook, Tech Talent Project
- Hiring, Digital Policy Guide
- r/USAJOBS, Reddit
- Navigating USAJOBS to Land a Federal Role, Arizona State University
Federal resume advice
- What should I include in my federal resume?, USAJOBS.gov
- Writing a Federal Resume, GoGovernment
- How to write a government resume, 18F (aimed at technologists writing resumes for government)
- The Federal Resume Guide, The National Archives and Records Administration