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1h ago

Bessent Sets 'Train-Then-Go' H‑1B Vision as Labor Expands Project Firewall

The administration is casting visas as short-term knowledge transfer to rebuild shipbuilding and semiconductor skills while imposing steep fees and tighter scrutiny.

US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in the Oval Office, at the White House in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan is to bring in skilled foreign workers for three to seven years to train Americans, then have those workers return home.
  • President Trump defended limited use of skilled foreign labor, arguing the U.S. lacks specific technical talents that must be learned before Americans can take over the roles.
  • The Department of Labor says Project Firewall has opened at least 175 H‑1B investigations, with early findings of underpayment, nonexistent job sites, and failures to report terminations.
  • Wage and Hour Division officials report more than $15 million in potential back wages in open cases, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez‑DeRemer is personally certifying investigations.
  • The policy shift includes a new $100,000 fee on certain H‑1B petitions, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says visa programs will continue with added vetting as businesses voice hiring concerns.