The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has taken legal measures against the current administration by filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint arises from President Donald Trump's recent executive order that imposes a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas—an increase deemed unlawful by the Chamber, which argues it could damage American businesses.
President Trump introduced the fee increase last month, with a clear objective to motivate businesses to employ and develop American workers, reducing the dependency on foreign labor. The executive order, which became effective on September 21, escalated the cost of H-1B petitions from an average of under $3,600 to over $100,000, as reported by the New York Post.
Neil Bradley, Chamber Vice President, articulated the potential negative impacts on U.S. employers, particularly start-ups and smaller firms, stating that the fee would render the H-1B program—which was intended to help American companies access global talent—prohibitive. While the Chamber has supported President Trump's economic plans broadly, Bradley expressed concern that this move could hinder access to proficient workers essential for business growth in the U.S. He conveyed a willingness to collaborate with the administration on "common-sense reforms" for the skilled worker visa process.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the fee increase, underscoring the importance of training American graduates and prioritizing domestic employment. The administration's stance is that the new fee serves as a deterrent against the exploitation of the H-1B program, which critics say is often used by tech companies to hire foreign employees at lower wages, undermining American workforce salaries.
A White House spokeswoman, Taylor Rogers, justified the fee as lawful, calling it a critical step toward reforming the program in line with President Trump's commitment to prioritize American workers. According to Rogers, the change is a "necessary, initial, incremental step towards necessary reforms to the H-1B program."
The policy shift has generated divided opinions. Business groups warn that the fee could impede economic growth, while proponents assert it protects U.S. labor from being undercut. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta have raised concerns regarding the escalating costs and potential hiring constraints on skilled foreign workers.
This move by President Trump is part of a broader initiative to prioritize American labor and decrease reliance on foreign talent in the tech industry. The legal confrontation initiated by the Chamber of Commerce could potentially influence the trajectory of skilled worker visas in the U.S.
