Project Firewall: Trump administration launches broad H-1B visa enforcement initiative

The Department of Labor on Friday announced Project Firewall, a sweeping enforcement initiative aimed at investigating employers for potential abuse of the H-1B visa process. The plan would widen the department's reach to examine whether employers comply with H-1B standards intended to protect both H-1B workers and American job seekers, including paying wages on par with similarly qualified workers, adhering to local prevailing wage requirements, and offering benefits on the same basis as for U.S. workers. It also seeks to verify that employers have taken good-faith steps to recruit American workers before petitioning for H-1B status. This may be the first time the federal government has pursued broad enforcement of these standards rather than relying on case-by-case investigations prompted by worker complaints.

In a statement announcing the initiative, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer framed the move as a pledge to protect American workers. "The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first." The program also comes as the administration has embraced aggressive immigration measures and workplace enforcement as part of a broader policy shift. Project Firewall is described as a proactive enforcement effort; it will involve intensified scrutiny of employers, including potential audits of wage practices and recruitment records. In a shift for a program that has historically been investigated on a case-by-case basis, the department said investigators will be trained to look for systemic noncompliance rather than isolated complaints.

The effort targets the ways in which H-1B workers are hired and compensated, with a focus on wages, benefits, and workplace conditions. Experts say the initiative could probe whether companies are underpaying workers or misclassifying job duties in ways that cushion labor costs, or whether they have complied with prevailing-wage requirements. Ron Hira, a professor of political science at Howard University, described the program as a major departure from prior enforcement norms. "The H-1B program has essentially never really been enforced," Hira told The Washington Post. If a company is found out of compliance, penalties could include back wages, civil fines, and debarment from sponsoring future visas. The Labor Department said it will coordinate with other federal agencies to address discrimination against American workers when appropriate.

The timing of Project Firewall coincides with a separate policy change: a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions. The proclamation, issued by President Trump, took effect over the weekend and applies to new petitions while allowing current visas and renewals to proceed under existing terms. The administration says doctors and some medical residents may be exempt from the higher fee, a point that prompted immediate questions from healthcare groups. The White House signaled potential exemptions in some medical contexts, while White House officials stressed that the policy is intended to curb abuses in the system and prioritize American workers. Medical associations and healthcare employers had warned the fee could threaten rural health care access. AMA President Bobby Mukkamala urged caution, while immigration attorneys noted that exemptions could be applied in practice. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the policy as a means to ensure that the most valuable workers come to the United States, but he also stressed the broader objective of hiring Americans when possible.

The White House also sought to reassure that the policy would not disrupt current H-1B visas or ongoing renewals, and that travel for current visa holders would continue under program rules. In interviews with Bloomberg, officials emphasized that the proclamation includes exemptions that could apply to physicians and medical residents serving in underserved communities. The administration has argued that the policy targets systemic abuse rather than legitimate use of the H-1B program and that it is aligned with broader efforts to curb immigration while protecting domestic workers. Critics, however, warn that higher costs and enhanced scrutiny could chill hiring of skilled foreign workers who fill critical roles in tech and science sectors. Some large tech companies publicly signaled a willingness to adapt while others warned of potential workforce disruption as compliance burdens rise.

The enforcement push unfolds amid a broader trajectory of immigration action by the administration. Earlier in the month, the administration drew international attention after a high-profile immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Ellabell, Georgia, which raised alarms among multinational employers about the treatment of foreign workers and the potential implications for international investment. The administration has also pursued tariffs and other trade measures intended to reshape corporate incentives, arguing these moves push companies to prioritize domestic production and domestic labor.

H-1B visas continue to be issued under an annual cap of roughly 85,000 visas, allocated through a lottery system. There are about 730,000 H-1B visa holders in the United States, with approximately 550,000 dependents. Experts say the program remains a central pathway for highly skilled workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including many who contribute to research, development, and high-tech manufacturing. Proponents of tighter enforcement contend that the program has been susceptible to abuse and that successful enforcement could help ensure that American workers receive first consideration when qualified U.S. candidates exist. Opponents argue that increased costs and stricter rules could deter global talent and slow U.S. innovation.

As Project Firewall unfolds, observers will monitor how aggressively the Labor Department pursues audits, how tribunals weigh penalties, and how companies adapt their hiring and compensation practices. The pathway for skilled immigration remains a contentious political issue, with lawmakers debating how to balance attracting global talent with protecting domestic workers in a tight labor market. The administration has pledged to work with Congress, the states, and industry stakeholders as it implements these sweeping changes. The coming months will reveal how this newly assertive approach to H-1B enforcement will affect employers, workers, and the broader U.S. economy.