Vance calls H-1B visa programme "completely broken" and backs scrapping it
In a video on X, US Vice President JD Vance said he would support eliminating the H-1B programme, arguing firms use it to replace American workers with cheaper foreign staff. He also defended the $100,000 fee, which a court has blocked.
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The story, neutrally told
US Vice President JD Vance called the H-1B visa programme "completely broken" and said he would back eliminating it, accusing companies of using it to replace American workers with cheaper foreign employees. The Times of IndiaN “US Vice President JD Vance has called the H-1B visa programme “completely broken” and said he would support scrapping it” Read at The Times of India ↗ Gulf NewsN ““My view is the H-1B programme is completely broken, and I’d be very supportive of just eliminating it,”” Read at Gulf News ↗ He made the remarks in a video shared on X, saying the programme had been "totally taken advantage of" by technology companies, accounting firms and other businesses. The Times of IndiaN “In a video shared on X, Vance said the programme had been “totally taken advantage of” by technology companies, accounting firms and other businesses.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Vance distinguished between hiring highly skilled foreign professionals and using the visas to cut labour costs, giving the example of an accountant paid $45,000 replacing an American accountant paid $60,000, which he called "destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people". The Times of IndiaN ““If you’re going to bring in an accountant making $45,000 a year to replace an accountant who is an American making $60,000 a year, that’s not you using the programme to bring in a genius,” Vance said.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Gulf NewsN ““That’s you destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people,” he said.” Read at Gulf News ↗
He added that while the programme exists, "what we have to do is protect American workers". Gulf NewsN ““But while we have it, what we have to do is protect American workers.”” Read at Gulf News ↗ Vance also defended the administration's $100,000 payment requirement for certain H-1B petitions for workers outside the US, introduced in September 2025 and extended in September 2026; he said a firm merely replacing an American accountant with a cheaper foreign one would not pay it. The Times of IndiaN “The White House introduced the measure in September 2025 and extended it for another year in September 2026.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Gulf NewsN ““If you’re just trying to replace an American accountant with a cheaper foreign accountant, then you’re not going to pay $100,000,” he said.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Gulf News, carrying ANI copy, reports the extension runs through September 21, 2027, with narrow exceptions for cases deemed vital to national interests, and that officials say the policy aims to shift hiring towards higher-skilled, higher-paid roles. Gulf NewsN “extending its duration through September 21, 2027, subject to narrow carve-outs encompassing situations deemed vital to national interests.”“Officials maintain that the policy aims to realign recruitment towards positions demanding higher skill sets and offering elevated remuneration.” Read at Gulf News ↗
The fee is currently blocked by the courts: both outlets say a judge in California halted enforcement because the administration had not followed required rulemaking procedures, and Gulf News dates this to October 1 and says it followed an earlier injunction. The Times of IndiaN “A second US district judge in California blocked enforcement of the $100,000 fee, finding that the administration had not followed the required rulemaking procedures.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Gulf NewsN “On October 1, a federal magistrate enjoined the charge” Read at Gulf News ↗ The remarks come as the administration pursues wider changes: a September 18 executive order directs the State, Labour and Homeland Security departments to consider whether a sponsoring employer has laid off or plans to lay off similar US workers, and tells the Labour Department to review earlier labour-condition applications for violations; a weighted selection system also favours higher-paid roles. The Times of IndiaN “A September 18 executive order directs the Departments of State, Labour and Homeland Security to consider whether an employer has recently laid off, or plans to lay off, similarly situated US workers”“The administration has separately introduced a weighted H-1B selection system that gives greater weight to higher-paid positions.” Read at The Times of India ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report Vance's remarks straight, leading with the 'completely broken' quote and then setting out the fee, court block and executive order as context.
- Emphasis
- Vance's accountant example and his defence of the $100,000 fee; Gulf News adds the fee's end date and carve-outs.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries reaction from the tech industry, critics, or the White House beyond Vance, and neither says whether eliminating the programme is administration policy.
- Charged language
- “completely broken”“destroying American jobs and defrauding the American people”
- For example
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“US Vice President JD Vance has branded the H-1B visa programme as “completely broken”” — Gulf News
“Vance defends $100,000 H-1B fee” — The Times of India
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Vance called the H-1B programme "completely broken" and said he would support eliminating it.
- He spoke in a video on X and defended the $100,000 fee.
- The fee was introduced in September 2025 and extended in September 2026.
- A court has blocked the fee for failing to follow rulemaking procedures.
- A September 18 executive order tightens H-1B review and a weighted selection system favours higher-paid roles.
JD Vance person
Says the programme is broken and he would support eliminating it, that employers use it to undercut American workers, and that the $100,000 fee deters that; until then, American workers must be protected.
““My view is the H-1B programme is completely broken, and I’d be very supportive of just eliminating it,”” — Gulf News
““If you’re just trying to replace an American accountant with a cheaper foreign accountant, then you’re not going to pay $100,000,” he said.” — The Times of India
H-1B visa program topic
The programme is under tightening administration rules and a legal challenge: the $100,000 fee is blocked in court, while an executive order and weighted selection reshape reviews.
“However, the fee is currently blocked following a federal court ruling.” — The Times of India
Middle East1 outlet
Gulf News runs ANI copy with fuller detail on the fee's extension to September 2027 and the October 1 injunction.
“extending its duration through September 21, 2027” — Gulf News
Gulf News
South Asia1 outlet
The Times of India gives a shorter report and calls the fee "controversial", in line with its readers' interest in H-1B policy.
“Vance also defended the Trump administration’s controversial $100,000 payment requirement” — The Times of India
The Times of India
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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US Vice President JD Vance says H-1B visa programme 'completely broken', should be scrapped
Neutral ANI copy carried by Gulf News reporting Vance's remarks with detailed policy and court context.
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'H-1B programme is completely broken': JD Vance backs scrapping visa system
Neutral Times of India reports Vance's remarks and the fee defence concisely, noting the court block.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Oct 06:16 First Gulf NewsN US Vice President JD Vance says H-1B visa programme 'completely broken', should be scrapped
- 2 Oct 06:29 +14m The Times of IndiaN 'H-1B programme is completely broken': JD Vance backs scrapping visa system
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.