The Trump White House no longer pays its interns, ending the stipends the Biden administration introduced in 2022. Biden's program paid the equivalent of $750 a week for a minimum of 35 hours of work, using funds from bipartisan legislation, and was announced as a way to “help remove barriers to equal opportunity for low-income students and first-generation professionals.”
The White House internship FAQ now states, “White House internships are unpaid positions,” and says applicants “are encouraged to contact educational institutions and other non-profit organizations to apply for assistance as needed,” with any outside funding or housing assistance requiring pre-approval. Interns are expected to work “at least Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.,” which People described as a minimum of 45 hours a week, and must arrange their own housing. Selection is based in part on “a commitment to the mission of the Trump Administration,” according to the application site.
A White House spokeswoman told People the program is “a highly coveted and extremely valuable opportunity for young professionals.” The Biden White House had argued that “unpaid federal internships have been a barrier to hardworking and talented students”; with the stipend gone, interns must again work without pay or find outside support.
Correction (October 2, 2026): This entry was dated April 3, 2026; People published its report on April 2, and the date has been corrected. The title said the White House eliminated the internship program; the program continues, unpaid. A closing line describing the change as a class barrier installed by a billionaire president was removed as commentary that no source supports.