‘Completely Broken’: JD Vance Backs Scrapping H-1B Visa Programme

US Vice President JD Vance has said he would support eliminating the H-1B visa programme, arguing that employers have exploited it to cut labour costs and replace American workers.

In a video shared on X, Vance described the programme as “completely broken” and said recent restrictions might not be enough to address its underlying problems.

“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.”

His comments expressed support for abolition; they did not announce a decision to end the programme.

‘That’s Not Bringing in a Genius’

Vance accused companies across technology, accounting and other sectors of abusing the visa system. He argued that recruiting exceptional international talent was different from hiring overseas workers to reduce wage bills.

“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,” he said.

“That’s you destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people.”

The salary comparison was an illustration of Vance’s argument, rather than evidence of a specific hiring case presented in the report.

Defending the $100,000 Fee

Vance also defended the administration’s $100,000 charge on certain H-1B petitions, describing it as a deterrent to hiring motivated primarily by cheaper labour.

“If you’re just trying to replace an American accountant with a cheaper foreign accountant, then you’re not going to pay $100,000,” he said.

According to the ANI report, the requirement was introduced in September 2025 for applicable petitions involving workers overseas and subsequently extended through September 21, 2027, with limited exceptions.

Administration officials have framed the measure as an attempt to encourage recruitment for higher-skilled, better-paid positions.

Tighter Scrutiny, Continuing Court Challenges

The administration has also moved to examine employers’ layoff records during application reviews, the report said.

A September 18 directive instructed the relevant departments to consider whether sponsoring companies had recently dismissed, or planned to dismiss, comparable American employees. It also called for scrutiny of previously filed labour-condition applications for potential violations.

The report said a tiered selection mechanism prioritising higher-paid roles had also been established.

The $100,000 charge, however, remains contested in court. According to ANI, a federal court issued an injunction against the fee on October 1 over failures to follow required administrative rulemaking procedures, following an earlier injunction this year.

With inputs from ANI