Washington, DC – On July 7, 2025, Adam Benko Badr began his summer legislative internship in the Office of Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored by the John N. Lauer Leadership Training Program (LTP) of the Coalition.
Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Adam Benko Badr
Adam is an undergraduate student at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria, where he is pursuing a double major in Economics and Politics, with a particular interest in international monetary policy and capital flow theory. Adam’s educational background and academic interests align closely with Congressman Gottheimer’s work on the House Financial Services Committee, where Adam will play an active role in supporting his representative’s policy development and legislative initiatives.
Born and raised in New Jersey to a Hungarian-American mother and Egyptian-American father, Adam has been involved with both diaspora communities throughout his life, gaining diverse international experiences, perspectives, and language skills that he wishes to bring to the program. His international upbringing and multilingual fluency have equipped him with a unique global perspective that he is eager to bring to his work in public service.
Adam’s commitment to public service is deeply inspired by his careers as public institution educators. His current internship represents not only a step toward his professional aspirations in public policy and international economics but also a continuation of his lifelong dedication to serving his home country, the United States, with integrity, insight, and a global outlook.
As part of his responsibilities in Congressman Gottheimer’s office, Adam will contribute to research, policy analysis, and legislative tracking on key financial issues affecting both his district and the broader American economy. His time in Washington, D.C. will offer him firsthand exposure to the inner workings of Congress and the federal legislative process, helping him build the skills and relationships needed for a future career in government or international economic policy.
LTP is the flagship leadership development program of the Coalition, established in 2005. Following the success of the White House (1996 – 2004) and Congressional Internship Programs (2005 – 2018), LTP has the goal of bringing English-speaking Hungarians from Hungary, the Carpathian Basin and the U.S., to gain first-hand work and life experience at Washington, DC-based institutions.