TechCongress

TechCongress was founded in 2015 by Travis Moore, a former Legislative Director for Rep. Henry A. Waxman, who identified a critical gap: when TechCongress launched, only 7 of approximately 3,500 Capitol Hill legislative staff had formal technical training. The organization was incubated by the Open Technology Institute at New America with seed funding from Reid Hoffman and the Ford Foundation's NetGain Partnership initiative. In 2021, TechCongress spun off as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The organization runs three primary fellowship tracks. The Congressional Innovation Fellowship places early-career technologists (two to six years of experience) in Congressional offices for ten months, providing a stipend of $73,500 annually plus benefits including healthcare reimbursement, travel allowance, and relocation assistance. The Senior Congressional Innovation Fellowship targets mid-career professionals with at least eight years of experience for twelve-month placements at a stipend of $96,750 annually. The AI Safety Fellowship places mid-to-late career technologists with significant AI expertise at federal agencies working on AI safety policy implementation, including agencies such as the Departments of State, Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security.

Since its first cohort in 2016, TechCongress has placed over 130 fellows across both parties and independent offices. Alumni have contributed to major legislative outcomes including changing defense procurement rules to allow startups to better compete for contracts, helping draft the House Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee report on tech monopolies, passing the OPEN Government Data Act, establishing the House Digital Service during the COVID-19 pandemic transition, and managing the investigation into whistleblower Frances Haugen's allegations against Facebook. As of late 2025, 35 TechCongress alumni have transitioned into full-time Congressional staff positions.

TechCongress maintains strict organizational independence through a diversified funding model in which no single funder exceeds 25 percent of its annual budget, and the organization explicitly does not accept tech company or corporate funding. Key funders have included the Knight Foundation (a $2.25 million grant in May 2022 to expand the program), the David and Lucile Packard Foundation ($450,000 in 2023 and $450,000 in 2026), the Ford Foundation, and the Hewlett Foundation via New America. The organization holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 94 percent score, and maintains over two years of operating reserves. TechCongress is headquartered at 740 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, and is led by Founder and Executive Director Travis Moore alongside a small core team of approximately seven staff members.