Government Jobs for CPT Students
Government CPT positions span federal agencies, state offices, municipal departments, and public policy organizations, giving students in public administration, political science, economics, law, and related fields hands-on experience that directly satisfies curriculum internship requirements. Because government employers provide offer letters without USCIS paperwork or sponsorship costs, CPT authorization moves quickly once your DSO approves the placement.
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A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.
Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.
Intro to Position
NPR seeks an outstanding recent law school graduate with an interest in First Amendment and media law to serve as its Ishiyama Transparency in Government Legal Fellow. Under the guidance of NPR staff lawyers, the Legal Fellow works with NPR journalists to obtain access to public records and proceedings that shed light on government operations. The Legal Fellow will help reporters craft requests for records under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state public records laws, appeal inappropriate denials, request access to court records and proceedings, and work with NPR staff lawyers and outside counsel in litigating FOIA, state public records act, and court-access cases. Time permitting, the Legal Fellow may also assist NPR staff lawyers on other media law matters, such as reviewing amicus briefs, pre-publication review, counseling reporters on newsgathering, copyright, and First Amendment issues, defending content-related suits, and negotiating content-related agreements.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
Here's what to include when you apply
To ensure your application receives the attention it deserves, please include a copy of your current resume and a cover letter. Your cover letter must specifically discuss your experience or demonstrated interest in:
Media Law & The First Amendment: Your academic or clinical background in libel, copyright, or newsgathering issues.
Government Transparency: Your familiarity with the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), state public records laws, or the legal frameworks governing access to government data and court proceedings.
Responsibilities
- Work with NPR journalists to request access to records under the federal Freedom of Information Act and state public records laws.
- Work with NPR staff attorneys and outside counsel to prepare appeals from inappropriate denials of such requests.
- Track federal FOIA and state public records requests and appeals across the NPR newsroom and the newsrooms of NPR Member stations engaged with NPR in collaborative reporting projects.
- Work with NPR staff attorneys and outside counsel to pursue FOIA, state public records act, and court-access litigation, and, time permitting, to defend content-related lawsuits against NPR and NPR journalists.
- Conduct legal research and advise NPR legal colleagues and reporters on FOIA, state public records act, court-access, and other media law issues.
- Prepare memoranda, presentations, and other materials for internal and external audiences.
- Prepare training materials and work with staff lawyers and newsroom leaders to train journalists in the effective use of FOIA and state public records laws.
The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.
Minimum Qualifications
- Outstanding academic credentials, including a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school earned by June 2026.
- Bar membership in good standing in the District of Columbia, or eligibility to waive into the DC bar, by January 2027.
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school earned by June 2026 required.
Work Location & Requirements
- NPR Hybrid-Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role include duties that are better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in the Washington D.C. / Virginia / Maryland region.
Required Skills/Competencies
- Demonstrated interest in, and knowledge of, the federal Freedom of Information Act, state public records laws, court-access law, and media law, generally.
- Superb verbal and written communications skills, high ethical and professional standards, a commitment to journalism, and good judgment.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, to set and adjust priorities, and to work under pressure.
Job Type
- This is a temporary (2-year) full-time position.
Compensation
Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $40.87 per hour. The rate displayed reflects the maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.
NPR Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.
Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.
LI-Hybrid
The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.
NPR Pay Range
$40.87 — $40.87 USD
NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.
If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.
You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.
Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers.
Overview
A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.
Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.
Intro to Position
NPR seeks an outstanding recent law school graduate with an interest in First Amendment and media law to serve as its Ishiyama Transparency in Government Legal Fellow. Under the guidance of NPR staff lawyers, the Legal Fellow works with NPR journalists to obtain access to public records and proceedings that shed light on government operations. The Legal Fellow will help reporters craft requests for records under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state public records laws, appeal inappropriate denials, request access to court records and proceedings, and work with NPR staff lawyers and outside counsel in litigating FOIA, state public records act, and court-access cases. Time permitting, the Legal Fellow may also assist NPR staff lawyers on other media law matters, such as reviewing amicus briefs, pre-publication review, counseling reporters on newsgathering, copyright, and First Amendment issues, defending content-related suits, and negotiating content-related agreements.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
Here's what to include when you apply
To ensure your application receives the attention it deserves, please include a copy of your current resume and a cover letter. Your cover letter must specifically discuss your experience or demonstrated interest in:
Media Law & The First Amendment: Your academic or clinical background in libel, copyright, or newsgathering issues.
Government Transparency: Your familiarity with the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), state public records laws, or the legal frameworks governing access to government data and court proceedings.
Responsibilities
- Work with NPR journalists to request access to records under the federal Freedom of Information Act and state public records laws.
- Work with NPR staff attorneys and outside counsel to prepare appeals from inappropriate denials of such requests.
- Track federal FOIA and state public records requests and appeals across the NPR newsroom and the newsrooms of NPR Member stations engaged with NPR in collaborative reporting projects.
- Work with NPR staff attorneys and outside counsel to pursue FOIA, state public records act, and court-access litigation, and, time permitting, to defend content-related lawsuits against NPR and NPR journalists.
- Conduct legal research and advise NPR legal colleagues and reporters on FOIA, state public records act, court-access, and other media law issues.
- Prepare memoranda, presentations, and other materials for internal and external audiences.
- Prepare training materials and work with staff lawyers and newsroom leaders to train journalists in the effective use of FOIA and state public records laws.
The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.
Minimum Qualifications
- Outstanding academic credentials, including a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school earned by June 2026.
- Bar membership in good standing in the District of Columbia, or eligibility to waive into the DC bar, by January 2027.
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school earned by June 2026 required.
Work Location & Requirements
- NPR Hybrid-Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role include duties that are better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in the Washington D.C. / Virginia / Maryland region.
Required Skills/Competencies
- Demonstrated interest in, and knowledge of, the federal Freedom of Information Act, state public records laws, court-access law, and media law, generally.
- Superb verbal and written communications skills, high ethical and professional standards, a commitment to journalism, and good judgment.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, to set and adjust priorities, and to work under pressure.
Job Type
- This is a temporary (2-year) full-time position.
Compensation
Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $40.87 per hour. The rate displayed reflects the maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.
NPR Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.
Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.
LI-Hybrid
The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.
NPR Pay Range
$40.87 — $40.87 USD
NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.
If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to employeerelations@npr.org.
You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.
Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers.
See all 116+ Government jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Government roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
How does government work qualify for CPT authorization?
CPT requires a direct connection between the work and your academic program. Government roles qualify when they align with your major, whether that is policy analysis for a public affairs student, data work for an economics student, or legal research for a pre-law or political science student. Your DSO will review the offer letter and confirm the role ties to a required or elective course in your curriculum before authorizing CPT.
Can I do a government CPT internship part-time while classes are in session?
Yes, and part-time CPT (under 20 hours per week) is the most common arrangement during active semesters. Federal and state agencies frequently structure student internship programs around academic schedules precisely because they recruit from university pipelines. Full-time government CPT is an option during official school breaks. Keep in mind that accumulating 12 or more months of full-time CPT across your program makes you ineligible for OPT, so most students stay part-time during the academic year.
What academic programs most commonly place students in government CPT roles?
Public policy, public administration, political science, economics, international relations, environmental science, computer science, and urban planning are the programs most frequently connected to government CPT placements. Agencies such as the EPA, Department of Transportation, and municipal planning offices regularly work with universities to host students whose coursework maps to agency functions. Your academic advisor or career center can confirm which government roles have been approved for CPT in your program previously.
How do I get CPT authorized for a government position once I have an offer?
The process starts with your employer providing an offer letter that includes your start date, end date, hours per week, job title, and a brief description of duties. You submit this to your DSO along with any required academic forms, such as a department approval or enrollment in a co-op course. Most schools process CPT authorization within a few days to two weeks. There are no USCIS filings and no cost to the government employer, which makes the authorization timeline faster than employer-sponsored visa processes.
Where is the best place to find government CPT internships?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point for F-1 students searching for CPT-eligible government positions, as the platform surfaces roles specifically open to students on F-1 work authorization. Beyond that, university career centers often maintain direct relationships with federal and state agencies through formal internship pipelines. Applying early matters in the government sector because many agencies run structured cohort programs with application windows that close months before the internship start date.
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