TechCongress

This fellowship will place you among the top tech decision makers in the United States government at a time when technology is reshaping society in fundamental ways. Even if you've never considered working in government, you should apply. The Senior Congressional Innovation Fellowship will allow you to make change at the highest levels and at a scale unparalleled in the private or public sectors.

We are bridging the divide between Congress and the technology sector by placing tech savvy candidates like you to work with Members of Congress and Congressional Committees in order to build capacity in Congress, train cross-sector leaders -- who can understand the challenges of government and in the technology community -- and keep Congress up to date about the latest challenges and opportunities relating to technology.

Fellows receive an annual $90,203 stipend and other benefits. This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC. Remote participation is not possible.

As a TechCongress Fellow you will:

• Work with TechCongress to choose a placement with a Member or Congress or Congressional Committee and report directly to a senior staffer (like a Chief of Staff or Staff Director) in that office from January through December 2024.

• Perform duties similar to other Congressional staff by applying your experience in technology to a variety of work, including:

  • Researching relevant policymaking (on issues like cyber and election security, data and biometric privacy, AI policy, autonomous vehicle regulations, health IT, encryption, disinformation, and many others).

  • Helping educate Members and staff about these issues.

  • Writing legislation.

  • Preparing for and organizing Committee hearings, markups, or investigations.

  • Building coalitions with partners and other groups.

• Support TechCongress by writing about and presenting on your experience periodically, and represent TechCongress and the Congressional Innovation Fellowship at meetings or events.

What we’re looking for in our Senior Fellows:

• Eight or more years of work or postgraduate study.

• Tech savvy, with experience working in or studying the technology sector.

• Great interpersonal and communications skills.

• Some technical ability and training.

• Ability to explain technology to those that aren’t as familiar with technology tools or concepts.

• Track record of success taking initiative and working with others.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Committed to helping get Members of Congress and Congressional staff up to speed on technology issues.

The Senior Congressional Innovation Fellowship is an opportunity for mid-career technology professionals to get hands on experience working in Congress and learn about the policymaking process.  The program embraces diversity and believes that a wide range of views, backgrounds and experience will contribute to improved policy outcomes.

You must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, green card holder, or must be lawfully authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer throughout the duration of the fellowship (including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, or those eligible for the DACA program).

No experience working in or with government? Great! We're not looking for that. The Senior Congressional Innovation Fellowship is an opportunity to expose technology leaders like you to Capitol Hill. It is first and foremost and educational experience, giving you a one-of-its-kind education into how Congress and the government works.

Senior Fellows receive competitive stipend and benefits during their twelve month residency to ensure that they can achieve maximum impact. 

Benefits include: 

• $90,203/year stipend

• Health insurance supplement of up to $425/month*

• Relocation allowance of up to $2,000

• Travel allowance of up to $2,000

• Reimbursement of up to $2,000 for accommodation for the first month of the fellowship in the Washington DC area to ease the transition.

• A $500 clothing allowance for purchases of professional attire

*Fellows access the same coverage options as Members and Congressional staffers through DC Health Link, the Washington D.C. Health Insurance Exchange

Will orientation be virtual or in-person?
Orientation will likely be a mix of in-person and virtual programming. Our June 2023 orientation, for example, had two days in-person and two days virtual each week.

We are also continuing to monitor the COVID-19 numbers and adjusting our programming accordingly in order to keep everyone safe. We’ve successfully run four fully virtual orientations and received very positive feedback from our fellows.

Is remote participation in the fellowship possible?
Unfortunately, no. Remote participation is not possible. You will have to relocate to Washington, D.C. for the fellowship. Most offices require you to work in person. Regardless of whether you are working in person or in a hybrid model, fellows will staff Members of Congress at Committee hearings and during floor votes and it is imperative that you are local for those occasions.

Is there support for relocating?
In addition to the relocation allowance of $2,000 to cover moving expenses, TechCongress is providing a one-time reimbursement of up to $2,000 for accommodation for the first month of the fellowship in the Washington, DC area to allow fellows to find short-term accommodation (Airbnb, extended stay hotel) and ease the transition.

How long is the fellowship, and what are the start and end dates?
The fellowship runs twelve months, starting in early January 2024 and continuing until December 31, 2024.  Fellows have the option of a one-month extension, through January 2025, to write about their experience and to provide extra time for a post-fellowship job search. 

Who is eligible for the program? 
Individuals with a background in technology and with technical skills or are encouraged to apply. Senior Fellows have diverse expertise and backgrounds. Our fellows to-date have had significant technical experience, including backgrounds in computer science, engineering and cybersecurity policy.

I haven’t studied law or public policy. Should I apply?
Absolutely!  In fact, this is an advantage. We don't expect any legal or public policy experience, and the purpose of the program is to bring new voices and new expertise into the policymaking process. Senior Fellows come from diverse backgrounds. The most important ingredient for success is an interest or background in technology and technology policy.  

Do I need formal technical training, like a computer science or engineering degree, to apply for the program? 
Not necessarily. Senior Fellows come from diverse backgrounds. That said, all of our fellows have had professional experience working with the nuts and bolts of technology. An understanding of how technology works, and an ability to translate complex technical concepts is essential. Please have a look at our current fellows or alumni to get a better sense of the kinds of individuals we’re looking for.  

I’m interested in working in on bio, energy, or environmental policy in Congress. Do fellows work on those issues? Those topics and fields of study are critically important, but they are not the focus of TechCongress. Our fellows focus broadly on the way the computing power is transforming society— issues like AI (including facial recognition and autonomous vehicles), cyber and election security, disinformation, data privacy and security, and defense technology matters. Issues like renewable energy, biotechnology, energy efficiency, grid modernization, climate change, and pharmaceutical policy typically fall outside of our scope in part because other Congressional fellowship programs, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellowship, already recruit for that expertise.

Where are the fellows based?
Fellows are based in Washington, D.C. and serve with Members of Congress or Congressional Committees in their respective offices in the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. You must be willing to relocate to Washington, D.C. to participate in the program. Remote work is not possible.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
You must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, green card holder, or must be lawfully authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer throughout the duration of the fellowship. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, or those eligible for the DACA program are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Our mission is to build bridges between the United States government and the technology sector. We are looking for people that intend on staying in the United States for their career.  If you are a foreign national that does not expect to permanently settle in the U.S., including immediately following the fellowship, this will affect your candidacy.  

SELECTIONS AND PLACEMENT 

How are fellows selected?
Fellows are selected by an independent selections board using criteria that includes:

• Potential for leadership in technology policy

• Professional achievements and technical ability.

• Commitment to building a diverse and cross-sector technology policy ecosystem.

• Potential for future growth and career advancement.

• Interpersonal, communication and “tech-translation” skills.

• Individual plans for incorporating the fellowship experience into specific career goals.

FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE

How is the placement determined?
Once accepted to the fellowship, fellows will participate in a two-week orientation program (see “What does the orientation process involve?” below).  After orientation, TechCongress will facilitate meetings with Members, Committees and Legislative Support Agencies to help fellows find their placement. TechCongress will work to secure interviews with any offices that fellows have identified ahead of time that align with their policy interests.  All 95 of our fellows have served highly influential Members of Congress or Congressional Committees, and in 2020 each fellow averaged over seven offers for placement. 

Although we encourage our fellows to meet with as many offices in Congress as they are interested in, please keep in mind that certain committees with required clearances may be reluctant to host fellows given sensitivities.

What will the orientation process involve?
Fellows begin the program with an in-depth, two-part orientation.  

Part one consists of small group networking with policymakers, including one-on-one conversations with Members of Congress and their staff.  It also includes workshops on the following topics:

• Legislative process, including House and Senate floor procedure

• Committees and Committee process

• Federal budgeting and appropriations

• Conducting oversight and investigations

• Overall leadership development

Part two consists of visits with tech policy thought leaders at academic institutions, civil society groups and technology companies to explore the range of perspectives on common tech policy challenges.

You can read more about our reflections about what we learned about orientation and our other work on our blog. 

What are the expectations of Fellows?
Fellows are expected to abide by all House and Senate ethics rules and the Congressional Innovation Fellows Code of Conduct.  Fellows operate much like regular Congressional Staff and are expected to abide by the rules of their placement offices.  Additional information is available on the House and Senate Ethics Committee websites, at www.house.gov/ethics and www.ethics.senate.gov. The full texts of the ethics manuals are available:

• House Ethics Manual

• Senate Ethics Manual

What is the day-to-day like?
One of the most common questions we receive is “What is the day-to-day of the fellowship look like?” And our answer - there is none! It depends based on what the office or committee is focused on and how they operate. Fellows work directly for a Member, Committee or Legislative Support Agency for the duration of their residency and could spend their time on technology-related issues like NSA surveillance reform, patent reform, cybersecurity, data security or network neutrality. Typical duties could include:

• Briefing Members and staff about technology issues

• Researching legislation

• Preparing for hearings or markups

• Meeting with stakeholder groups and building coalitions

What kind activities will occur during the fellowship?
Fellows will report directly to their placement office and assist office staff on relevant duties.  The fellowship includes a mentorship and professional development program as well as regular events and convenings for fellows with tech policy thought leaders.  

What happens after the fellowship?
TechCongress is committed to helping fellows transition after their fellowship. We work with fellows individually to connect with technology leaders and find a home in the technology or the policy community after the program. Senior Fellows also have the option of a one-month extension, through January 2025, to write about their experience and to provide extra time for a post-fellowship job search. 

Our fellows make a tremendous impact on the institution and tend to follow one of four tracks after their fellowship: they stay on the Hill, work elsewhere in government, work for a civil society/nonprofit/think tank, or go back to the private sector but work in policy-oriented roles. We are proud to have TechCongress alumni at the ACLU, the U.S. Department of State, Center for Democracy and Technology, Schmidt Futures, Upturn, the Lincoln Network, and more.

How do I find health insurance? 
Health Insurance is available on the Washington D.C. Health Insurance Exchange.  Fellows have access to the same coverage as Members of Congress and Congressional staff, as part of the Affordable Care Act.  TechCongress provides a reimbursement for health insurance premiums up to $425/month.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Prior to final interviews, TechCongress will request information from applicants related to ongoing personal or professional activities that might interfere with a fellow’s impartiality serving in a Member or Committee office.  This information will be used to identify any activity that might:

• Significantly impair the fellow’s objectivity, or

• Create an unfair competitive advantage for any person or organization

Fellows will be required to identify:

• Past, existing and future paid and unpaid activities.

• Board affiliations

• Consultancies or other interests and sources of financial support

In order to preserve the integrity of the TechCongress fellowship, and ensure that the fellow is not compromised by the appearance of a conflict of interest, the fellow will be required to sign a statement affirming that there is no conflict of interest or competing interest that would  preclude a fellow from participating in a Congressional fellowship.

The term “Conflict of Interest” applies not only to the applicant, but to the interests of others in which the applicant has significant financial interest, including the applicant’s partner or dependents. 

In addition to this statement, fellows must comply with laws, rules, and standards of conduct applicable to House and Senate employees and may be required to sign statements affirming compliance with these requirements.  

These include “the Code of Official Conduct (House Rule 23), the gift rule (House Rule 25, clause 5), the ban on solicitations (5 U.S.C. § 7353), and the limitations on accepting a payment for a speech, article, or appearance (House Rule 25, clause 1(a)(2)).”

As a condition of the fellowship, the fellow may be required by the federal government to submit a financial disclosure statement and sign a declaration of adherence to policies and laws governing codes of ethical conduct. For more information about specific ethics determinations, please visit http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/manual.pdf and http://ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.house.gov/files/documents/2008_House_Ethics_Manual.pdf (see page 284).