The U.S. Department of Labor has intensified its crackdown on potential H-1B visa abuse, confirming it has opened 175 active investigations into suspected violations. In a social media post, the agency underscored its commitment to putting “American workers first” and criticized previous Washington administrations for turning a blind eye to longstanding misuse of the program.
In a post on X Sunday, the Labor Department said it is taking a tougher stance on enforcement, vowing to hold employers accountable for visa misuse. “For decades, DC bureaucrats looked the other way as companies abused the H-1B visa and sold out the American Worker,” the department wrote. “POTUS and Secretary LCD are bringing this to an end, holding employers accountable for their abuse and ensuring American jobs go to American workers.”
READ: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to ‘pull the plug’ on H-1B use at state universities (October 29, 2025)
Ahead of the announcement, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized on X that safeguarding American workers remains her top priority under President Donald Trump’s leadership. She said the department has rolled out Project Firewall, an initiative aimed at curbing widespread H-1B visa misuse and ensuring that U.S. workers are prioritized for available jobs. “That’s why we’re taking action through Project Firewall to hold companies accountable for rampant H-1B abuse and ensure Americans are put first in the hiring process.”
In a recent interview with Fox News, Chavez-DeRemer said she personally approved all 175 H-1B visa investigations, a first for the Labor Department. “We want to make sure these companies are not abusing.”
Just two days earlier, Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling criticized Senate Democrats, claiming they were obstructing President Trump’s “America First” agenda. He urged lawmakers to stop “playing politics” with the livelihoods of American workers.
What do the 175 investigations focus on?
According to Fox News, the investigations aim to uncover misuse of the H-1B visa program, focusing on cases where employers may have underpaid or manipulated more than $15 million in worker wages. Officials say early findings point to several concerning patterns in how the visa program has been used.
The Labor Department says its investigators have uncovered widespread irregularities in how some employers are using the H-1B visa program. In several cases, foreign workers, including those with advanced degrees were allegedly paid far less than what their employers had certified in official filings. Officials warn that such practices not only exploit visa holders but also depress overall wages, hurting American workers in the process.
Investigators also found that some companies delayed reporting when H-1B employees were terminated, leaving inaccurate employment records on file for weeks or even months. The review of Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), documents that must be filed before an H-1B hire revealed additional red flags: fake or non-existent job locations, mismatched salaries, and positions that didn’t align with what was promised in the paperwork. In some cases, job postings appeared to be copied and pasted boilerplate text, bearing little resemblance to the actual work being done.
READ: DHS to end automatic extension policy for immigrant work permits (EADs) (
Officials say these findings point to systemic flaws in how parts of the H-1B program are being managed, prompting the department to take a tougher enforcement stance to protect both U.S. and foreign workers from further abuse.
What is Project Firewall?
Launched in September, Project Firewall marks the Labor Department’s most aggressive effort yet to close “loopholes and misuse in the H-1B system.” The initiative came just days after President Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa filings, a move aimed at discouraging what the administration calls mass applications for low-cost foreign labor.
The H-1B program is widely used across technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors to bring in highly skilled professionals from overseas, with Indian nationals making up one of the largest recipient groups. According to the White House, the new measures are intended to prevent companies from flooding the system with “cheap labour” petitions and to ensure that American workers remain competitive.
Officials say the initiative is part of a broader effort to restore public confidence in the visa process and guarantee that U.S. jobs go first to U.S. citizens. Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the department is deploying “every resource” available to curb H-1B program abuse and will continue strengthening oversight under President Trump’s leadership.