US Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito has signalled that the Trump administration is preparing for intensified action on foreign labour visa programmes, posting on X that a “big week”
lies ahead on the issue as scrutiny grows over the hiring of foreign workers.
“Big week ahead on the foreign labor visa front,” D’Esposito wrote. “We’re taking LFG to a whole new level. American jobs. American workers.”
D’Esposito did not identify a specific visa programme, employer or investigation in the post.
Big week ahead on the foreign labor visa front.
We’re taking LFG to a whole new level.
American jobs. American workers.
@POTUS @vp @Sonderling47 @WHFraudTF @DOJFraudDiv— Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito (@USLaborIG) October 4, 2026
His remarks come as the Trump administration has stepped up scrutiny of employment-based immigration programmes amid allegations that companies may be using foreign-worker visas in ways that disadvantage American employees.
The post also comes against the backdrop of broader administration efforts to tighten the H-1B visa system and impose greater scrutiny on employers sponsoring foreign workers.
JD Vance Calls H-1B Programme ‘Completely Broken’
US Vice President JD Vance had, on October 2, described the H-1B visa programme as “completely broken” and said he would support eliminating it, arguing that corporations had used the system to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour.
In a video shared on X, Vance said the programme had been “totally taken advantage of” by technology companies, accounting firms and businesses in other sectors.
He distinguished between bringing highly skilled foreign professionals into the United States and using the programme primarily to reduce labour costs.
“If you’re going to bring in an accountant making $45,000 a year to replace an accountant who is an American making $60,000 a year, that’s not you using the programme to bring in a genius,” Vance said.
“That’s you destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people,” he added.
Vance also defended the White House’s USD 100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions involving workers outside the US.
The requirement was introduced in September 2025 and was extended by the administration in September 2026 through September 21, 2027, with limited exemptions for cases considered important to national interests.
“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.
H-1B Scrutiny And Higher-Salary Selection
The administration has also introduced broader changes to the H-1B system.
An executive directive issued on September 18 instructed the Departments of State, Labour and Homeland Security to examine whether companies sponsoring H-1B workers had recently carried out, or planned to carry out, layoffs involving comparable American employees.
The Labour Department was also directed to scrutinise previously filed labour-condition applications for possible violations.
At the same time, the administration has established a tiered selection mechanism that gives priority to higher-salaried positions.
Vance, however, indicated that such measures may not resolve what he described as deeper problems within the programme.
“My view is the H-1B programme is completely broken, and I’d be very supportive of just eliminating it,” he said.
“But while we have it, what we have to do is protect American workers.”
$100,000 H-1B Fee Faces Court Challenges
The administration’s USD 100,000 H-1B fee has also faced judicial challenges.
A federal magistrate on October 1 enjoined the fee after finding that the administration had not followed mandatory administrative rulemaking procedures.
The ruling followed an earlier judicial injunction against the measure.
The latest developments come as the White House continues to emphasise protecting American workers and scrutinising the use of employment-based visa programmes.
50 Countries Face US Visa Bond Requirement
Separately, the US State Department has designated 50 countries whose citizens face financial bonds of USD 10,000, USD 15,000 or USD 20,000 when qualifying for B1/B2 tourist and business visas, according to an ANI report.
India is exempt from the requirement, while South Asian countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are among those covered.
Nepal and Bangladesh have faced the mandate since January 21, while Bhutan was added beginning January 1.
Under the programme, the precise bond amount is determined by a consular officer during the visa interview.
The State Department said the programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and was established through a final rule enacted on August 3, using US Department of Homeland Security visa-overstay data.
