Overview

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he is helping rewrite the program, called the current H‑1B system a “scam,” and previewed a wage‑weighted selection to replace the lottery.
• The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has approved a draft rule to prioritize H‑1B selections by earnings, a step toward formal publication and public review.
• Lutnick promoted a proposed ‘Gold Card’ offering permanent residency for a $5 million investment, claiming interest from about 250,000 potential applicants and projecting $1.25 trillion in inflows.
• USCIS Director Joseph Edlow has argued the visa should “supplement, not supplant” U.S. workers and signaled support for wage‑based allocation.
• Political pressure is mounting as Senator Mike Lee asked if it is time to pause H‑1B visas following unverified social media claims about hiring at Walmart, which the company denied was related to H‑1Bs; any rule changes would heavily affect Indians, who receive roughly 70–72% of new visas and could take effect as early as the FY2027 cycle if finalized.