New Skillbridge Act Opens Congressional Fellowships for Transitioning Service Members, Capping Stays at 180 Days

The Skillbridge Congressional Fellowship Act of 2025 is setting up a new path for active-duty service members who are getting ready to transition out of the military. Essentially, it allows them to use the existing Skillbridge program—which helps service members gain civilian work experience before separating—for an internship right inside Congress. This means they can now participate in a fellowship within a Member of Congress’s personal office, a leadership office, or even a House or Senate committee.

The Ultimate Transition: From Uniform to Capitol Hill

This change is a big deal for military personnel looking to pivot their careers. Skillbridge is already a popular program, letting service members essentially intern for up to six months while still on active duty, maintaining their pay and benefits. This new law expands the pool of available opportunities into the legislative branch. For a service member with a background in logistics, cybersecurity, or project management, a 180-day fellowship with a committee focused on national security or appropriations could be the perfect bridge to a high-demand civilian job.

To keep things structured, the bill sets a few key ground rules. First, the specific Congressional office or committee has to approve the service member before they can start. Second, offices can only host one service member at a time, though there is a two-week overlap allowance to smooth transitions between fellows. This ensures the experience remains focused and the office isn't suddenly swamped with temporary staff.

Mandatory Training and Ethical Guardrails

Before any service member steps foot into a Congressional office, they must complete mandatory orientation training. This training, coordinated by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, will cover the basics of how Congress actually works, including essential rules on ethics and proper protocol. This is a smart move. Bringing someone directly from the highly structured military environment into the often-murky waters of legislative politics requires a clear ethical roadmap. It helps protect both the service member and the office from potential missteps.

Crucially, the service member’s commanding officer must sign off, confirming the person is qualified for the specific fellowship opportunity. This adds a necessary layer of quality control, making sure the right personnel are matched with the right opportunities. The fellowships are capped at 180 days, ensuring they remain a stepping stone rather than a long-term staffing solution. Overall, this legislation appears to be a clear win-win: it gives highly skilled transitioning military personnel invaluable civilian experience, and it provides Congressional offices with temporary access to a pool of disciplined and qualified talent.