U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
GAO
Trump introduces main charges for high-skill visa program
President Donald Trump has introduced plans to dramatically enhance charges related to the H-1B visa program, creating new hurdles for scientists and engineers trying to work within the U.S. In a proclamation
on Friday, Trump stated that U.S. firms’ reliance on international employees has taken alternatives away from home expertise and discouraged Americans from pursuing careers in science and expertise, making a nationwide safety risk. To handle this, the Trump administration is introducing a $100,000 visa price for firms that vie for the 85,000 visas granted by way of this system annually by way of a lottery system.
It is unclear how this transformation will affect universities and different nonprofit analysis organizations that use a model of H-1B visas which are exempt from the annual cap that applies to firms. The proclamation language, and subsequent additional information
shared by the Trump administration, doesn’t particularly exempt these establishments from the brand new charges, although it notes exemptions could also be granted underneath a “national interest” clause.
In addition to substantial new H-1B visa charges, the proclamation states the Trump administration will look to lift the wage necessities for candidates, guaranteeing this system is “used to hire only the best of the best of temporary foreign workers,” according to
the State Department. The administration can also be planning to present higher-paid H-1B visa candidates precedence in this system’s lottery course of. Various features of the proclamation are more likely to be challenged in court.
In associated information impacting international STEM expertise, the Department of Homeland Security issued a draft rule final month that will create new restrictions
on visas for worldwide college students. The proposed adjustments embrace capping visa length at 4 years, as an alternative of issuing visas throughout the applicant’s educational program. That transfer might create hurdles for PhD candidates, whose levels typically take greater than 4 years to finish and would require them to reapply to increase their keep. The remark interval for the rule closes on Sept. 29.
Threat of presidency shutdown escalates
The deadline for Congress to agree a fiscal yr 2026 price range is quick approaching however Republicans and Democrats nonetheless seem removed from consensus, elevating the potential for a government shutdown
beginning Oct. 1. The Senate didn’t cross a Republican-authored stopgap spending bill
final week that will have continued federal funding at close to present ranges by way of Nov. 21. All however one Democrat opposed the invoice, demanding elevated healthcare funds. The similar stopgap spending invoice handed by 217-212 within the House, placing strain on the Senate to keep away from a authorities shutdown. All however one House Democrat voted in opposition to the invoice. An alternative proposal
put ahead by Democrats additionally failed within the Senate final week by a vote of 47-45 alongside social gathering traces. The Democrat invoice would have continued funding by way of the tip of October and included language defending science missions underway at NASA in addition to applications funded by the National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
National labs see layoffs and voluntary separations
Pacific Northwest National Lab noticed involuntary layoffs final week, following choices of voluntary separation to some employees, in accordance with a lab spokesperson. The lab initially requested for 90 volunteers however stated that the required variety of volunteers was not achieved. The spokesperson didn’t handle how many individuals have been laid off or accepted voluntary separations. Staff at Fermi and Argonne Labs have additionally obtained voluntary separation provides within the final month, according to the Chicago PBS station WTTW.
Argonne aimed to cap the accepted separation provides at 60. At Sandia Labs, layoffs of 400 persons are deliberate to be accomplished by October, Source NM reported last month.
Steeper job losses have been feared throughout the nationwide lab system however apparently haven’t but occurred. Back in July,
California lawmakers expressed considerations concerning the prospect of mass layoffs at nationwide labs.
Also on our radar
- NSF introduced 15 finalists
for its Regional Innovation Engines program final week, which embrace Quantum Connected led by the University of Chicago, Advancing Quantum Technologies led by the University of Connecticut, Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) led by Oregon State University, Advancing Photonics Technologies led by the Princeton University, and the STELLAR laser initiative led by the University of Rochester. - NSF has but to launch the solicitation for its Graduate Research Fellowship Program, inflicting stress
amongst potential candidates. - The U.S. has placed
export restrictions on two extra branches of the Chinese Academy of Sciences – the National Time Service Center and the Aerospace Research Institute – the newest in a series of restrictions
positioned on branches of CAS. - A brand new report
from Republicans on the House CCP Committee claims that the Biden administration didn’t adequately implement visa restrictions on sure Chinese graduate college students and researchers that have been implemented
throughout the first Trump administration. - NASA’s growing involvement with the Department of Defense has drawn criticism
from House Science Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) on the grounds it might undermine NASA’s public picture and distract the company from its core missions.