EI Inside Washington 

Inside Washington: The 120th Congress Comes to Order

Inside Washington is a semester-long seminar that provides participants with a deeper understanding of how politics and policy drive decision-making in Washington, D.C. Through immersive, full-day sessions in the nation’s capital, students will develop an understanding of how elected officials, government leaders, political parties, lobbyists, advocacy groups, and others in the political arena influence policymaking in one of the world’s most powerful cities.

Why the Beginning Matters

This spring students will spend five immersive days in Washington, DC as a new Congress gets to work. The start of a new Congress is when the rules, priorities, and leadership for the next two years are set. Members are sworn in, committees are organized, chairs and ranking members are named, and new offices are built from scratch. What happens in these first months will shape which issues move forward and which never get a hearing.

At the same time, Congress faces the work that keeps the government running. Authorization bills create and shape federal programs, while appropriations bills decide how much money those programs receive. Deadlines, budget fights, and negotiations between the House, Senate, and White House determine how the nation’s priorities are funded, and what happens when they are not.

What to Expect

Our students have the exciting opportunity to watch all of this unfold guided by a seasoned government affairs professional with more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill and in government relations. They’ll learn how a new Congress organizes itself, how Congressional offices are staffed and structured, how authorization and appropriations differ and work together, and how the federal budget process shapes policy. During five full-day trips to Washington, D.C., students will hear from the people who write legislation, manage Congressional offices, advise committees, and track the money behind federal programs. Participants in this program will be exposed to the inner workings of the nation’s capital through private discussions and site visits, such as:

• Congressional offices
• Committee staff, including authorizing and appropriations committees
• Party leadership offices
• Federal agencies and their legislative affairs teams
• Lobbying firms and advocacy organizations
• Nonpartisan budget and research offices
• Newsrooms

Individual Project

Each student will select newly elected member of Congress and serve as a mock Legislative Correspondent. Throughout the semester, students will research and evaluate public positions, stakeholder perspectives, and relevant policy considerations surrounding proposed legislation. Students will synthesize their findings and develop a recommendation for how the member should respond to an upcoming vote, including a clear rationale and supporting evidence.

Networking

In addition to learning about how Congress works, this seminar is designed to help participants create their own path from academics to professional public service careers in politics, advocacy, lobbying, diplomacy, and related fields. Students will begin to build a professional network and learn how to communicate effectively one-on-one in professional settings. The semester ends with a private networking event to put those skills into practice.

About the Seminar

Inside Washington is the Eisenhower Institute’s foundational experiential learning seminar, preparing students to participate in future EI programs. Students of all majors and class years are welcome to apply. The seminar is led by Gettysburg College alumni: Ryan Woodward ‘12, Chief of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

Spring 2027 Schedule

Sessions will take place on Fridays in Washington, D.C. Transportation will be provided, and travel time is included in the schedule below. Due to fast-changing developments in Washington beyond the Institute’s control, it is possible on occasion that dates could change to alternate Fridays. Please consider your regular availability on Fridays when deciding to apply.

Students are expected to attend all sessions. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that class schedules do not conflict, or to make arrangements with professors to make up work.

Scheduled Session Dates:

• Friday, January 22, 7am-8pm: Washington, D.C.
• Friday, February 5, 7am-8pm: Washington, D.C.
• Friday, February 26, 7am-8pm: Washington, D.C.
• Friday, March 19, 7am-8pm: Washington, D.C.
• Wednesday, March 31, 10am-10pm: Washington, D.C. (Alumni/Networking Event) The Eisenhower Institute will be hosting a showcase on April 21-23. Each EI program will be assigned a date and time within that window to present a deliverable from their work in the program. That date will be provided closer to the showcase.

Attendance at ALL sessions is required.

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