The Trump administration announced a sweeping change to the H‑1B visa program on Tuesday, proposing a $103,265 filing fee for a large share of new petitions. The move is intended to make it more costly for companies to rely on foreign‑born specialists and to encourage hiring and training of American workers, a priority repeatedly voiced by Vice President JD Vance.
Investor’s mockery fuels controversy
Shortly after the proposal was released, Ankit Gupta, a general partner at Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator, posted a sarcastic comment on X that likened the administration’s push to prioritize American labor to “DEI” – a term the Trump administration and many conservatives view as a symbol of left‑wing cultural mandates. Gupta’s post, which he later limited to private followers, read, “In a win for the woke left DEI is back.”
The remark ignited a rapid response from senior officials who defended the fee as a necessary step to protect American jobs. Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito wrote, “Ankit Gupta thinks hiring Americans first—in America—is ‘DEI.’ No, Ankit. It’s called putting your own citizens first. American companies. American jobs. American workers first.”
Administration officials rally behind the fee
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson joined the criticism, warning that wealthy investors who disparage American workers undermine the nation’s economic welfare. “I’m deeply uncomfortable with wealthy investors attacking American workers like this,” Ferguson said. “The purpose of the American economy is to promote the general welfare of American workers, not provide jobs for the rest of the world.”
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon also weighed in, describing what she called “abuses” of the H‑1B program and other foreign‑worker visas. She argued that many tech firms bypass normal hiring channels, use body‑shop mills, and exploit optional practical training (OPT) to secure cheap labor while sidelining qualified Americans.
Industry and policy voices weigh in
Former Trump officials and immigration‑policy experts echoed the administration’s concerns. John Miano of the Federation for American Immigration Reform said the dispute reflects a deeper question about America’s identity as a nation‑state versus an economic zone. He warned that the H‑1B wage system was deliberately designed to allow employers to pay foreign specialists low wages.
Mary Marslender, a former senior advisor to the U.S. Senate and now a Republican consultant, described how some corporations deliberately hide job openings from American workers, then interview qualified candidates only to find legal reasons to reject them. “Prioritizing cheap foreign labor over American workers denies Americans jobs, particularly young people who need the firsthand experience to launch their careers,” she said.
Tech leaders defend American hiring
Y Combinator President Garry Tan responded to the criticism of Gupta by stating, “YC supports hiring and funding Americans.” While Gupta’s comments were quickly retracted from public view, the episode highlights the tension between Silicon Valley’s global talent model and the administration’s push for a more America‑first workforce.
Former acting assistant attorney general Theo Wold, who served under President Trump, reminded readers that many of America’s greatest inventions—microchips, television, the internet—were created by native talent. He urged the nation to “encourage our young talent to build anew, rather than replace them with cheap labor widgets from Guangdong and Andhra Pradesh.”
What the fee means for employers
If enacted, the $103,265 fee would apply to most new H‑1B petitions, raising the cost of hiring foreign specialists and potentially shifting hiring practices toward American graduates and workers. Critics argue the fee could burden smaller firms that rely on specialized talent, while supporters contend it will level the playing field for domestic job seekers.
The proposal is part of a broader Trump‑administration effort to tighten immigration rules, protect American workers, and ensure that the nation’s economic future is built on its own citizens.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
