In a move that could reshape hiring practices in U.S. higher education institutions, Republican lawmakers Rep. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Andrew Clyde have introduced a new bill aimed at eliminating the H-1B visa exemption currently available to colleges and universities.
The proposed legislation, titled the Colleges for the American People Act of 2025, seeks to repeal the provision that allows universities to bypass the annual H-1B visa cap when hiring foreign staff.
Currently, the H-1B visa program permits 65,000 new workers per year, with an additional 20,000 slots reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees. Higher education institutions are currently exempt from this cap.
Under the proposed bill, foreign nationals seeking employment in U.S. colleges and universities would have to compete through the standard H-1B lottery process, alongside applicants from the private sector.
“American students spend years earning their degrees, only to see universities hand out well-paying jobs to foreign workers on special visas,” Rep. Tiffany said. “The CAP Act ensures that our institutions serve American citizens first and stops the backdoor hiring practices that disadvantage domestic workers.”
The bill would not apply retroactively. Current H-1B holders employed by universities would still be able to apply for extensions without falling under the annual cap.
The proposal comes amid broader efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to reform the H-1B program, including replacing the existing lottery system with a wage-based selection process.
A similar rule was introduced during the Trump administration but was later shelved by the Biden administration.
