US Senator Tom Cotton on Friday voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s initiative to reform the H-1B visa program, announcing plans to introduce legislation aimed at prioritizing American workers. His comments came as the Department of Labor launched Project Firewall, a major enforcement effort designed to crack down on H-1B visa misuse.
Cotton posted on X that President Trump and Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer were correct in calling for changes to the H-1B program. He stated that he would introduce two bills next week to implement these reforms and ensure that American workers are prioritized.
Project Firewall, described by Secretary Chavez-DeRemer as one of the most aggressive oversight efforts in H-1B history, represents a shift from reactive complaint-based enforcement to proactive investigations targeting employers suspected of violating visa rules. For the first time, the Labor Secretary will personally certify these investigations.
The initiative includes several key measures, such as requiring employers to pay H-1B workers prevailing local wages or match the compensation of comparable U.S. employees, ensuring equal benefits for visa holders, and mandating proof that companies made genuine efforts to recruit American workers before hiring H-1B employees. Employers found in violation of these rules could face back wage orders, civil fines, or bans from the program. The Department of Labor will also coordinate with the Justice Department, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to strengthen enforcement.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that Project Firewall would prevent employers from abusing the H-1B visa program at the expense of American workers and ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first.
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