The White House Fellows program is a non-partisan fellowship established via Executive Order 11183 by President Lyndon B. Johnson in October 1964.

The fellowship is one of the United States' most prestigious programs for leadership and public service, offering exceptional US citizens first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government.

The fellowship was founded based upon a suggestion from John W. Gardner, then the president of Carnegie Corporation and later the sixth secretary of health, education, and welfare.

These roundtables are augmented through observation of policy in action, including domestic and international engagements with foreign dignitaries, industry executives, elected officials, and civil servants.

The selection process to become a White House Fellow is very competitive, with fellowships awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis.

Based on the results of these interviews, the regional panelists and the director of the PCWHF select approximately thirty candidates to proceed as national finalists.

[20][21] The Director of the PCWHF is appointed by the President, serves as the Designated Federal Officer for the Commission, and is supported by a team of staff members.

[35] Due to the successes and longevity of the White House Fellows program, latter administrations have introduced other distinct fellowships with similar names.

The program typically recruits 20–35 fellows for each new cohort[38] and charges them with helping to solve the nation’s toughest challenges and emerging issues.

The White House Leadership Development Program is designed to provide senior level federal employees (GS-15 and equivalent) with exposure to cross-agency priority challenges.