Washington DC [US]— US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has clarified President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on H-1B visa reforms, outlining a more pragmatic approach that seeks to balance American job protection with the need for global expertise in critical industries.
Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday (local time), Bessent said the President’s vision is to bring in “skilled foreign talent” for short-term training roles aimed at transferring knowledge to American workers before the experts return to their home countries. He described the initiative as a “home run” that complements Trump’s broader goal of reviving domestic manufacturing, particularly in sectors like defence, shipbuilding, and semiconductors.
“For the past 20 or 30 years, we’ve offshored precision manufacturing jobs,” Bessent said. “The President’s point is that we can’t just snap our fingers and expect Americans to instantly learn how to build ships or microchips. We need skilled foreign partners for a few years to train US workers, and then those workers can fully take over.”
Bessent’s statement follows President Trump’s recent interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, during which Trump appeared to temper his administration’s hardline stance on H-1B visa restrictions. The President acknowledged that while protecting American jobs remains a top priority, importing specialised talent is necessary to sustain industrial growth and maintain the country’s technological edge.
“You can’t take people off the unemployment line and say, ‘I’m going to put you in a missile factory,’” Trump said. “There are certain skills you don’t have, and people need to learn them. You also have to bring in this talent.”
Bessent reiterated that the policy is not intended to create long-term dependence on foreign labour but rather to promote knowledge transfer and workforce development. “This idea of overseas experts coming in, teaching American workers, and then returning home — that’s a home run,” he said.
The clarification comes amid significant changes to the H-1B visa framework introduced under Trump’s administration. In September, the President signed a proclamation increasing the H-1B visa application fee to USD 100,000, a steep jump from the previous USD 1,500. The new fee applies to all new petitions and entries for the 2026 H-1B lottery, while existing visa holders and earlier filings remain unaffected.
The State Department later confirmed that the new rule aims to ensure that US companies prioritise domestic recruitment while still allowing access to foreign specialists where critical skill shortages exist.
Bessent emphasized that the administration’s ultimate goal is to rebuild America’s self-reliant industrial base. “This isn’t about replacing American workers. It’s about creating a bridge — using global expertise to strengthen domestic capability,” he said.
