ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Project firewall escalates H-1B hiring scrutiny
The Department of Labor said Project Firewall aims to protect the rights, wages and opportunities of highly skilled U.S. workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans in hiring.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Wed, 26, Nov 2025
- 00:36 EST
- 345
Representative image / AI generated
The Department of Labor said on Nov. 25 that its Project Firewall initiative has led to stronger federal enforcement against discriminatory hiring practices, signaling a sharper approach to oversight of the H-1B visa program and its impact on American workers.
The department said the effort, launched as an H-1B enforcement initiative, has pushed agencies to coordinate more closely, share data and address job postings that illegally prefer foreign workers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released new and updated materials that restate legal protections against national origin discrimination, including situations in which employers advertise jobs only for H-1B visa holders.
ALSO READ: Ron Hira says H-1B holders are ‘average labor’
The department said Project Firewall aims to protect the rights, wages and opportunities of highly skilled U.S. workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans in hiring. It also includes enforcement actions against employers that misuse the visa program.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer praised the EEOC’s moves. “I applaud the EEOC for standing with the Department of Labor’s mandate under Project Firewall to ensure American workers have a fair chance to compete and succeed,” she said. She added in a separate sentence that “under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue working with our federal partners to put an end to bad practices and safeguard opportunities for American workers.”
Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling described the coordinated approach as essential. “The EEOC’s announcement underscores the importance of federal agencies working in concert to uphold the rights of workers,” he said. He added that by sharing information and aligning tools, agencies “are better positioned to prevent discriminatory hiring practices and protect labor market integrity.”
ALSO READ: Congressman Krishnamoorthi backs H-1B visas
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said the commission expects to play a central role. “The EEOC stands ready to be a committed partner across the federal government,” she said. She added that “with the scale of unlawful anti-American discrimination we’re seeing, robust investigation and enforcement… is essential to protecting America’s workforce.”
The Labor Department said Project Firewall will continue to coordinate with other agencies, as permitted by law, to address discrimination and strengthen enforcement. The announcement comes as federal oversight of the H-1B program becomes a focal point in ongoing national debates over the place of highly skilled immigrants in the U.S. labor market.
Related
.jpeg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login