This summer I worked in the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). My specific office was NE-51, which is Reactor Fleet and Advanced Reactor Deployment. As such, I got to see the federal government's approach on maintaining and developing cutting edge nuclear fission technology. This was especially interesting as my nuclear energy background is more on the fusion side of the spectrum and fusion energy is still a while away from playing any significant role in addressing the climate crisis or any other energy concerns. As part of my internship, I edited reports to congress, worked directly with the Deputy Assistant Secretary in charge of NE-51, and was also able to get a firsthand look at how our foreign policy and nuclear policy intersected. This included experience in a working group preparing the US approach to the Gen IV International Forum, a multilateral body dedicated to sharing research in order to develop safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly nuclear fission reactors. Overall, my DC summer was a fantastic experience that has motivated me to further explore policy-related uses for my course 22 major.