US House bill proposes to end H-1B visa program by 2027

A significant legislative proposal has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that seeks to completely abolish the H-1B visa program by fiscal year 2027. Titled the 'Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act,' or the EXILE Act, the bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Greg Steube of Florida. This proposed legislation aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, specifically targeting Section 214(g)(1)(A), which governs the H-1B visa cap. The core of Steube's argument, as articulated in his press releases and statements, is that the H-1B program has been repeatedly exploited by corporations to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor, leading to wage suppression and job displacement for U.S. citizens. The bill's sponsors point to several instances they claim exemplify this exploitation. These include allegations of companies like Disney laying off American employees in 2015 and replacing them with H-1B visa holders, Southern California Edison firing 540 workers in 2014 and hiring replacements from Indian outsourcing firms using H-1B visas, and claims that over 16,000 Microsoft employees were displaced in 2025 after more than 9,000 H-1B visas were approved. Representative Steube has stated that prioritizing foreign labor over American citizens undermines national values and interests, and that the EXILE Act is intended to 'put working Americans first again.' The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations, and it is widely utilized in sectors such as technology, healthcare, engineering, and scientific research. Data consistently shows that a substantial majority of H-1B visa holders come from India and China, with Indian nationals being the largest group. For instance, recent data indicates that Indians obtained approximately 71% of H-1B approvals, and more than 80% of H-1B recipients are from India or China, often being younger professionals. Consequently, a bill aiming to end the H-1B program would have a profound impact on Indian professionals seeking to work in the United States, as it has long served as a primary pathway for them. This is not the first legislative attempt to curb or eliminate the H-1B program. Earlier in January 2026, Marjorie Taylor Greene, then a U.S. Representative, introduced the 'End H-1B Now Act,' which also sought to eliminate the program entirely. The EXILE Act, however, specifically targets the statutory cap on H-1B visas, aiming to reduce it to zero starting in fiscal year 2027. It is currently unclear whether Steube's bill would also affect H-1B hires from cap-exempt categories, such as those employed by universities and non-profit research organizations. The legislative process for the EXILE Act is still in its early stages. It must first clear committee review before proceeding to a vote on the House floor, and subsequently to the Senate. The outcome of this legislative journey is uncertain. The introduction of this bill adds to the ongoing, complex debate in the U.S. surrounding skilled immigration, labor market needs, and the balance between protecting the domestic workforce and attracting global talent. Recent years have seen increased scrutiny and changes related to the H-1B program. These include the implementation of a wage-based selection process, increased application fees (with a notable $100,000 fee introduced in late 2025), enhanced screening and vetting by the State Department, and an enforcement initiative by the Department of Labor called Project Firewall. These measures have already created uncertainty and increased costs for employers and applicants, particularly for Indian professionals. The potential implications for India are significant, given the large number of Indian professionals who benefit from the H-1B program. Such a change could impact the IT and tech sectors, which heavily rely on this visa category. It could also influence the business models of Indian outsourcing firms that often send staff to the U.S. for client-facing roles. In summary, the introduction of the EXILE Act represents a significant push to terminate the H-1B visa program, citing concerns over its impact on American jobs and wages. While the bill faces a challenging legislative path, its proposal underscores the ongoing debate and policy shifts concerning skilled immigration in the United States and their potential consequences for countries like India.

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