‘Days Of Abuse Are Over’: Trump Administration As H-1B Applications Drop 38.5%

Key Takeaways

• ‘Days Of Abuse Are Over’: Trump Administration As H-1B Applications Drop 38.5% Published By, Last Updated: May 23, 2026, 07:57 IST While some lawmakers continue to demand the complete scrapping of the H-1B programme, USCIS has not indicated any plans to end it.
• Rapid Read (Representative Image) The Donald Trump administration on Thursday said H-1B visa applications saw a steep decline this year following major changes to the selection process for the work visa programme.
• Describing the move as a crackdown on misuse, the administration asserted that “the days of abusing the programme with mass, low-wage registrations are over." Figures released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showed that valid H-1B registrations for fiscal year 2027 dropped to 211,600 from 343,981 in fiscal year 2026, a decline of 38.5 per cent.
• The H-1B visa programme, extensively used by Indian professionals seeking employment in the United States, has faced increased scrutiny in recent years.
• The White House had previously introduced tougher wage norms and increased application fees, saying the measures were aimed at preventing abuse of the system.