By Hamza Faisal
US Vice President JD Vance has said he would support eliminating the H-1B visa program altogether, calling the system “completely broken” and accusing American companies of using it to replace domestic workers with lower-paid foreign employees.
Vance made the remarks on Thursday in an interview with commentator Jack Posobiec aboard Air Force Two, clips of which were later shared on X.
He argued that technology companies, accounting firms, and businesses in other sectors had “totally taken advantage of” the program, and that the issue had become one of the most contentious dividing lines inside the Republican Party.
“My view is the H-1B program is completely broken, and I’d be very supportive of just eliminating it,” Vance said. “But while we have it, what we have to do is protect American workers.”

A line between talent and cheap labor

The vice president drew a distinction between hiring exceptional overseas talent and using the visa route primarily to reduce wage costs. As an example, he pointed to a company bringing in an accountant at $45,000 a year to replace an American accountant earning $60,000 a year.
“That’s not you using the program to bring in a genius,” Vance said. “That’s you destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people.”
The H-1B system allows US employers to hire foreign workers for specialized roles that typically require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, most commonly in technology, healthcare, and engineering. Visas are generally granted for three years and can be extended to six.

Defending the $100,000 fee

Vance also defended the administration’s $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions involving workers outside the United States.
The fee originated in a presidential proclamation in September 2025 and was extended in September 2026 through September 21, 2027, with limited exemptions where the Department of Homeland Security determines a hire serves the US national interest.
“If you’re just trying to replace an American accountant with a cheaper foreign accountant, then you’re not going to pay $100,000,” Vance said, framing the fee as a gateway to ensure the program is used for its intended purpose.

The payment requirement has been blocked by a second federal court, and legal challenges are ongoing.

A widening crackdown

Vance’s remarks come on top of a broader administration push to tighten scrutiny of H-1B sponsors.
A September 18 executive order directed the Departments of State, Labor, and Homeland Security to weigh whether sponsoring employers had carried out layoffs in the previous year, and instructed the Labor Department to review past labor condition applications for possible enforcement action.
The administration is also moving toward a selection framework that gives greater weight to higher-paid roles.

Vance’s comments drew swift support from the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., who re-shared the interview on X and wrote that he could not agree more.
The debate pits Silicon Valley allies within the Republican Party against an immigration-skeptical wing of right-wing media, and Vance’s remarks suggest he is siding firmly with the latter camp — a notable move given his status as a widely discussed 2028 presidential prospect.
For the global technology industry, which relies heavily on H-1B workers, the signal is unmistakable: the pressure on skilled-worker immigration in the United States is only intensifying.