Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has criticized the H-1B visa program, calling it a “total scam” in the context of tech companies laying off American workers while hiring foreign labor.
In a post on X on July 30, 2025, DeSantis stated, “Importing foreigners while firing American workers is terrible policy and a scam,” quoting his earlier remarks where he said, “A lot of these tech companies are laying off American workers and then importing H1B visas. I think that’s a TOTAL scam.”
In 2015, Disney ignited a firestorm of controversy that became an issue in the 2016 Presidential election when it had its American workers train their foreign H-1B replacements at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
The fresh criticism comes amid significant layoffs in the tech sector in 2025, with companies like Microsoft, Intel, and Meta cutting over 100,000 jobs collectively. Microsoft, for instance, laid off around 9,000 employees in 2025 while filing for over 6,000 H-1B visa applications since 2024.
Vice President JD Vance has echoed similar concerns, criticizing Microsoft for laying off American workers while relying on H-1B visas. Vance stated that such practices worry him, questioning the displacement of U.S. workers. Microsoft has responded that its layoffs and H-1B applications are “in no way” related, noting that many visa petitions are for extensions of existing employees.
The H-1B program has faced scrutiny within the Republican Party, with some calling for reforms or elimination to prioritize American employment. The Trump administration plans to overhaul the program, including replacing the random lottery with a wage-weighted selection process to favor higher-paying positions.
Supporters of the H-1B visa, including tech industry figures like Elon Musk, argue it is necessary to fill skill gaps in the U.S. workforce. Critics, however, contend it enables companies to hire cheaper foreign labor, exacerbating job losses for Americans.
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