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U.S. Senator introduces bill targeting H-1B abuse
The proposal would suspend new H-1B visas for three years and impose stricter eligibility rules.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 29, Jul 2026
- 16:01 EDT
- 29
Tim Sheehy / Wikipedia
U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced legislation to overhaul the H-1B visa program emphasizing the need to curb abuse and prioritize American workers.
The End H-1B Abuse Act of 2026, introduced on July 23, would pause the issuance of new H-1B visas for three years before restarting the program under tighter standards.
Also Read: US bill revives green card pathway for H-1B visa holders
The Republican said the bill would restore the H-1B program to its original purpose of filling specialized positions that are difficult to staff while strengthening oversight and closing loopholes.
"The H-1B program was created to address workforce shortages for specialized, difficult-to-fill positions – not to displace qualified, hardworking Americans with cheaper, foreign labor. We shouldn't be issuing work permits that make it easier to undercut American workers when we have the talent right here at home," Sheehy said in a statement.
"My legislation, the End H-1B Abuse Act, restores the program to its original intent and puts American workers first by closing loopholes that incentivize abuse, strengthening guardrails, and prioritizing our national security interests," he added.
According to Sheehy's office, the legislation would codify President Donald Trump's proposed $100,000 fee for each H-1B petition, replace the current lottery system with a wage-based selection process, and prohibit concurrent employment and third-party staffing agency models.
The bill would also end the "dual intent" provision for H-1B visa holders and prevent H-class visa holders from bringing dependents.
It would further bar federal agencies from sponsoring or employing nonimmigrant visa holders and eliminate work authorization for foreign students and certain exchange visitors, including programs similar to Optional Practical Training.
Sheehy argued that the H-1B program has evolved from a limited visa pathway for hard-to-fill jobs into a "large-scale labor substitution pipeline," citing concerns that layoffs have coincided with continued H-1B hiring.
The office also said the current system creates opportunities for fraud while raising national security concerns in sectors such as artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and defense-related industries.
The legislation is backed by the Immigration Accountability Project and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), according to Sheehy's office.
The bill comes as the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year finalized regulations replacing the traditional random H-1B lottery with a weighted selection system that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid workers. The administration has also implemented a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for the FY2027 cap season.
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