Vice President JD Vance publicly accused major U.S. companies of systematically abusing the H-1B visa program to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
"The H-1B visa program is meant to allow companies to bring in really the best of the best from outside the United States of America for positions that are completely impossible to fill with American workers," Vance said, describing the program's intended purpose.
But he said companies have perverted that design. "Unfortunately, the program has become rife with fraud over the last several years, probably the last several decades," Vance said.
The Vice President's complaint echoes a long-standing criticism of the program: that companies invoke a false shortage of domestic talent to justify hiring foreign workers at lower wages. Critics argue the practice depresses salaries and blocks hiring of American citizens.
Technology industry leaders defend the program as essential to fill genuine skill gaps that allow U.S. companies to compete globally in fields like engineering and advanced software development.
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that typically require a bachelor's degree or higher. The program caps new visas at 85,000 annually, with 20,000 reserved for workers who hold U.S. master's degrees or higher.
President Donald Trump's administration has already moved to tighten H-1B regulations and scrutinize companies that employ high percentages of visa holders. Vance's escalated criticism signals the administration is preparing to push harder on reform—through either stricter enforcement or legislative changes that would prioritize American hiring.
