Tag Archives: administration

Charles Hoskinson Reacts to Scott Bessent’s Bitcoin Post

Posted on by
Reply

**US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Highlights Bitcoin’s Reliability on 17th Anniversary of Whitepaper**

On November 1, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made waves on X by posting about Bitcoin’s impressive reliability over the last 17 years. Marking the anniversary of the Bitcoin Whitepaper, Bessent remarked on the resilience of the flagship cryptocurrency, emphasizing that “17 years after the white paper, the Bitcoin network is still operational and more resilient than ever. Bitcoin never shuts down.” He also called on Senate Democrats to take note of this remarkable feat.

### Charles Hoskinson Reacts with Amusement

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, expressed surprise and amusement at Bessent’s pro-Bitcoin stance, especially coming from an elected official. In his reaction to the X post, Hoskinson described the moment as “profoundly magical,” highlighting how this signals a significant shift from the region’s previously skeptical or anti-Bitcoin stance.

He further credited the pro-crypto administration under former President Donald Trump for paving the way toward this change. Hoskinson remarked that Bessent’s statement reflects growing mainstream acceptance and institutional adoption of Bitcoin, the first-ever digital asset.

### Growing Institutional and Governmental Adoption of Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s adoption continues to expand beyond just enthusiasts and investors. Over recent months, multiple institutions and countries have begun incorporating Bitcoin into their strategic reserves, underscoring the asset’s legitimacy and growing importance on a global scale.

### France Proposes Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bill

In a notable development, France is moving toward becoming the first European country to establish a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. Just before October ended, Eric Ciotti, President of the Union of the Right and Centre (UDR), introduced a bill in the French National Assembly proposing the acquisition of 2% of the total BTC supply.

This equates to approximately 420,000 BTC, planned to be acquired over 7–8 years as a measure to protect France’s financial sovereignty. Gregory Raymond, co-founder of Big Whale, acknowledged that this is the first time such a comprehensive Bitcoin reserve bill has been proposed in France, marking a significant milestone.

### Bitcoin Price Update

Despite these positive developments, Bitcoin’s price remains relatively stable, hovering around $110,000. Notably, this marks the first time in seven years that Bitcoin is closing the tenth month of the year (October) in the red, despite the popularly termed “Uptober” rally.

At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap data shows Bitcoin trading at approximately $109,992.59.

—

*Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to provide accurate and timely information but should not be considered financial or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly. We encourage readers to verify information independently and consult professionals before making any financial decisions.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/charles-hoskinson-reacts-to-scott-bessents-bitcoin-post/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=charles-hoskinson-reacts-to-scott-bessents-bitcoin-post

Trump’s blue state election gambit panned as ‘more bark than bite’ by expert

Posted on by
Reply

On Tuesday, Slate writer Shirin Ali reported that nearly half the country will head to the polls to cast ballots on a range of major questions and offices. However, “President Donald Trump just made a not-so-subtle power grab” to complicate that vote in some blue states.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal monitors will be sent to California and New Jersey to ensure “ballot security,” Ali said, adding that the move has “sparked fear on social media.”

California, in particular, is set to vote on Proposition 50, which is Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) effort to hand control of the state’s congressional maps to Democratic lawmakers. This is in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts in Texas and elsewhere.

If the measure is successful, the state would likely gain five additional congressional seats to counter Texas’s mid-decade gerrymander, an attempt to keep the U.S. House under Republican control.

Preeminent elections expert Rick Hasen assured Slate that Bondi’s observers “are more bark than bite, likely intended to ‘trigger’ Democrats during the lead-up to a critical vote.”

However, this initial attempt to use federal officials to push unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud could lead to federal troops at polling places in the future.

“A few days after Bondi’s initial announcement, California countered with its own message to the Trump administration,” said Ali. State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California would send its own state election watchers to watch Bondi’s watchers, while also calling out the Trump administration’s motives.

It’s a “nesting-doll” situation as watchers watch watchers, but Hasen said none of the election monitors will have much to do. “I think there’ll be a lot of people standing around doing nothing,” he said, noting that of California’s 58 counties, only five are being targeted.

Thankfully, the same states that Bondi is careful to target have built-in freedoms allowing voters to avoid her election monitors.

“This is not normal,” Hasen said. “I do think we have to take seriously the possibility that people are going to have to get around federal troops if they want to be able to vote, which would be a good reason to vote early and not have to deal with these things on Election Day.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-california-2674255758/

Johnson raises shutdown stakes on Schumer as food stamp deadline, Obamacare cliff loom

Posted on by
Reply

Speaker Mike Johnson is increasing pressure on Senate Democrats by keeping the House out of session for a sixth consecutive week amid the ongoing government shutdown—the second-longest in U.S. history. With less than a week before potentially surpassing the 2018-2019 shutdown record of nearly 35 days, the stalemate continues.

Senate Democrats have rejected the GOP’s short-term federal funding plan 13 times. While some signs of compromise are beginning to emerge, leaders on both sides have yet to signal any flexibility in their positions. Meanwhile, funding for critical programs that millions of American families rely on is expected to run out this weekend. The Senate is set to leave Washington until Monday after once again failing to pass the funding bill.

**Battleground Republicans Hold the Line as Johnson Pressures Democrats on Shutdown**

Federal dollars for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to run dry starting Saturday, putting food stamp benefits at risk for approximately 42 million Americans. Funding for the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), which supports pregnant mothers and children under age five, is also in danger despite earlier funding adjustments during the Trump administration.

Additionally, the Head Start program, which provides childcare support for low-income families with young children, is likely to exhaust its funding this weekend.

The Republicans’ proposal, a continuing resolution (CR), calls for a mostly flat seven-week extension of current federal funding levels. It also includes $88 million in security funding for lawmakers, the White House, and the judicial branch—an allocation with bipartisan support.

However, Democrats in both the House and Senate have expressed outrage over being excluded from federal funding negotiations. They have been advocating for an extension of Obamacare subsidies enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These enhancements are set to expire by the end of 2025 unless Congress acts.

Republican leaders have shown willingness to discuss reforming and enhancing these healthcare credits but are rejecting Democrats’ demand to include them in the CR. Democrats hope that the looming open enrollment period, also starting Saturday, may pressure Republicans into concessions.

Since passing the bill on September 19, Johnson has kept the House out of session. Democrats have criticized this move nearly every day, accusing the GOP leader of keeping Republicans “on vacation” while the government remains shut down.

In response, Johnson insists the House cannot resume work until Democrats agree to end the shutdown. Instead, he has directed Republicans to stay in their districts to communicate the shutdown’s impact and assist constituents in navigating the challenges it presents.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-raises-shutdown-stakes-schumer-food-stamp-deadline-obamacare-cliff-loom

“Biden Administration Policies Led to a 0% Market Share in China”, Claims NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, as He Hopes for a Breakthrough in the Region

Posted on by
Reply

**NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang Comments on Loss of China Market Share During Biden Administration**

NVIDIA’s China AI market has been shrouded in uncertainty for quite some time, largely due to the restrictions the company has faced under both the Biden administration and the current U.S. government policies. While NVIDIA’s Ampere and Hopper lineups did not encounter significant barriers initially— with AI chips like the A100 and H100 being supplied to Beijing without export controls — the landscape changed once AI became mainstream. Restrictions introduced during the Biden administration gradually took effect, significantly hindering NVIDIA’s business in China.

Speaking to the media, CEO Jensen Huang made a striking statement regarding the company’s market share in China during the Biden era:

*“Today, we have 0%. At the beginning of the Biden administration, we had 95%. The policies of that administration really caused us to lose practically the entire China market. I would guess that China is probably something like $35 to $50 billion a year to us if we are fully in that market today. By the end of the decade, it’s probably well over $100 billion. It’s quite substantial, but at the moment, it’s zero.”*

Huang’s comments likely allude to policies similar to the AI Diffusion Act, which sought to regulate the flow of American technology based on geopolitical considerations. When this legislation was proposed, NVIDIA publicly opposed it in a dedicated blog post.

In response to escalating export controls, NVIDIA launched the H20 AI chip specifically for China to comply with new restrictions. Additionally, the company manufactured a tailored version of its consumer GPU, the RTX 5090D, to meet regional market demands. However, NVIDIA’s declining market share is not solely attributed to the Biden administration.

Under the Trump administration, NVIDIA faced its own set of challenges: the H20 AI chip sales in China were temporarily halted and only resumed after NVIDIA agreed to a “revenue sharing” model with the U.S. government.

Moreover, strained U.S.-China trade relations led to setbacks on the Chinese side as well, with domestic regulators reportedly encouraging Chinese Big Tech firms to avoid using NVIDIA’s AI chips.

While the veracity of Jensen Huang’s specific claims is a separate discussion, the current state of the market is clear—NVIDIA currently has no foothold in China’s AI chip sector. Huang is optimistic about reentering the market, particularly with NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell architecture, but time is running out for the company to regain traction in this critical region.

—

*Stay tuned for more updates on NVIDIA’s strategies and the evolving U.S.-China tech landscape.*
https://wccftech.com/biden-administration-policies-led-to-a-0-market-share-in-china-claims-nvidia-jensen-huang/

Seoul and Washington Pen $950 Billion Deal

Posted on by
Reply

**Washington and Seoul Broker Historic $950 Billion Trade and Military Deal**

Washington and Seoul have secured a landmark $950 billion agreement, bringing the two nations closer both in trade and military cooperation. This historic deal marks a significant step in strengthening the alliance between South Korea and the United States.

Under the terms of the agreement, South Korea will pay $350 billion upfront to reduce tariffs previously imposed by the USA. Over time, hundreds of billions of dollars will flow between the two countries, as trade once again proves to be a powerful tool for diplomacy.

A key component of the deal involves South Korea’s auto exports, which will be reduced from 25% to 15%. This adjustment brings South Korean automobile manufacturers on par with their Japanese counterparts. Additionally, the agreement aims to enhance South Korea’s competitiveness against Japan in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, wood products, and aircraft parts.

Seoul has committed to investing $200 billion in cash into the US economy, to be disbursed in increments of $20 billion. Furthermore, $150 billion will be allocated specifically to US shipbuilding, with payments scheduled to continue through January 2029. This phased approach is designed to avoid destabilizing South Korea’s foreign exchange market and to maintain a stable dollar-won ratio.

The $150 billion investment focused on ship construction guarantees direct participation from Korean firms. Among key collaborations, US investment firm Cerberus Management and Hyundai plan to jointly launch a $5 billion initiative. Both nations have discussed profit-sharing arrangements to precede the repayment of principal and interest on these investments.

The high-profile signing ceremony saw South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warmly greet then-US President Donald Trump. In a symbolic gesture, Trump was presented with a golden crown, a replica of an ancient artifact from the historic Silla Kingdom. Some observers interpret the crown as a subtle reference to the “No Kings” protests happening in South Korea at the time.

Significantly, President Trump became the first US president to receive the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest honor. His presence and reception have been seen as a revival of hope for deeper engagement in Asia.

Trump’s historic tour is anticipated to inject trillions of dollars into the US economy as Asian nations seek to strengthen ties under the current administration. Many countries in the region view China as a growing threat and see the European Union as a less robust partner. Consequently, numerous trade agreements now include military components, further solidifying strategic alliances.

These developments signal a future with substantial capital inflows into US markets driven by strengthened economic and military partnerships with Asian nations.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/world-trade/seoul-and-washington-pen-950-billion-deal/

UNH Poll: Majority of Vermonters support a Gov. Phil Scott reelection campaign

Posted on by
Reply

The latest University of New Hampshire Green Mountain State Poll results, released on Friday, indicate that the majority of Vermonters approve of Governor Phil Scott’s performance in office and want him to run for reelection next year.

The October poll outlined political positioning leading up to next year’s statewide elections, according to Professor Andrew Smith, an author of the poll and director of UNH’s Survey Center. It draws on 880 survey responses collected last week, which are weighted according to demographic information from U.S. Census data and recent election results, Smith said.

The governor has remained relatively popular with Democrats and “mitigated some of the anger” from those farther to his right since the presidential election, Smith noted. “He’s in a pretty good spot for reelection.”

Over 60% of Vermonters approved of Scott’s work as governor, with 57% to some extent in favor of him running for reelection. Slightly less than half believed he actually deserved to be reelected, the survey said.

Scott’s consistently high standing in polling is particularly noteworthy given the state’s strong blue leanings in other areas of politics, Smith added.

The survey found that 80% of Democrats and over half of all Vermonters describe Scott as far or slightly to the right of their own views. Yet, in a question that allowed poll-takers to say they wanted multiple potential candidates to run, Scott registered only slightly lower support—47% among Democrats—compared to the 50% garnered by liberal State Treasurer and rumored gubernatorial hopeful Mike Pieciak. An even lower 38% of Democrats said they wanted State Attorney General Charity Clark, another possible challenger for governor, to run.

However, Scott’s potential Democratic opponents also registered high rates of “don’t know/no opinion” responses to this query. “The major reason for Vermonters’ ambivalence about Pieciak and Clark is they are largely unknown,” the survey authors observed.

For more than 70% of Republicans, Scott sat far or slightly to their left. Just 20% of all Vermonters thought that Scott’s politics are “close to (their) own views,” the survey estimated.

U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) continued to demonstrate strong appeal among the state’s Democrats, with just over half the state saying she deserves reelection, according to the survey. Mark Coester, a Republican who ran against Balint in 2024, has filed to challenge her again next year. Just 6% of Vermonters had a favorable opinion of Coester, and more than three-quarters didn’t know enough about him to say, the survey found.

The survey also included several questions about current state policy decisions, “taking a look at what issues are in the news, what people are paying attention to,” Smith said.

One such question focused on the Scott administration’s much-discussed return-to-office plan for state employees, which has drawn pushback from the Vermont State Employees Association, among others. Overall, 51% of Vermonters supported the policy to some extent, with 13% remaining neutral.

However, public opinion on the governor’s policy ran heavily along party lines: 80% of Republicans and 64% of Independents strongly or somewhat supported the measure, compared with just a third of Democrats.

The governor’s refusal to send Vermont National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. at the request of President Donald Trump was met with relative popularity across the state, Friday’s poll said. The move was opposed to some degree by 70% of Republicans, but affirmed by 98% of Democrats. Combining all responses, 72% of Vermonters approved of the decision.

Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.org. This story was republished with permission from VTDigger, which offers its reporting at no cost to local news organizations through its Community News Sharing Project. To learn more, visit vtdigger.org/community-news-sharing-project.
https://vnews.com/2025/10/29/vermonters-approve-scott-reelection/

Democratic Lawmakers Urge DeSantis To Declare Emergency and Buy Supplies for Food Pantries

Posted on by
Reply

**Florida Democrats Urge Gov. DeSantis to Declare State of Emergency Amid Looming Food Assistance Crisis**

Florida Democrats in the Legislature are imploring Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency and allocate state funds to purchase food for distribution to food pantries. This urgent request comes as nearly 3 million Floridians face losing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to an ongoing federal government shutdown.

Led by Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) and House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa), legislative Democrats sent a letter to Gov. DeSantis on Tuesday. They urged him to use his emergency powers to ensure that millions of Floridians who rely on SNAP do not go hungry when their benefits expire this Saturday.

The letter also requests that DeSantis direct the Department of Children and Families—the agency responsible for administering SNAP—to coordinate with local food banks and community partners to distribute food immediately.

> “For families already struggling under record food and housing costs, the loss of this critical support would be catastrophic,” the letter states.
> “Local food banks and pantries have already reported overwhelming demand and depleted supplies. We are days away from a full-blown hunger emergency that will leave families without food during the holiday season. The state cannot stand by.”

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried echoed the urgency in a separate statement:

> “This moment is bigger than politics. This is about showing up for our fellow Americans and keeping Floridians safe and fed.”

### The Scope of SNAP in Florida

SNAP provides essential nutritional support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families facing food insecurity. Florida ranks fourth nationwide in SNAP enrollment, with nearly 2.94 million residents relying on the assistance—behind California, Texas, and New York.

Nationwide, approximately 41.7 million people depend on SNAP benefits, according to August 2025 data.

### Federal Shutdown and SNAP Funding Stalemate

The DeSantis administration recently posted a notice warning that SNAP benefits are about to expire, following an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On Friday, the USDA reported it would not tap into $6 billion in contingency funds to maintain benefits during the government shutdown.

It would take roughly $9 billion to cover SNAP costs through November. However, a federal memo—initially reported by Axios—claims that contingency funds cannot be used to sustain the program during the shutdown. The memo states:

> “Contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits. The contingency fund is not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.”

This partisan impasse has resulted in a 28-day government shutdown, which began on October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year.

### Florida Democrats Demand State Action

In their letter, Florida Democrats emphasized SNAP’s critical role:

> “SNAP is one of the most effective programs for addressing hunger and food insecurity in the state. Especially after the recent cuts stemming from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Floridians cannot afford another day without action by the state. Florida has the fiscal strength to respond. What’s needed now is the moral will to act. No parent should have to choose between paying rent and feeding their kids. No child should go hungry because politicians in Washington can’t agree. We urge you to act immediately.”

Senate Leader Lori Berman called the governor’s inaction “heartless”:

> “Florida has $5 billion in its ‘rainy day’ fund that DeSantis could use to avert the food cliff low-income families face. The sudden loss of those benefits would be an economic and humanitarian nightmare. With the stroke of a pen, the Governor can keep food on peoples’ tables. He has a responsibility to the people of this state to put partisanship aside and lead. Refusing to act would be truly heartless.”

House Leader Fentrice Driskell also criticized the governor:

> “He brags about ‘maxing out’ the amount of savings in the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund. If millions of hungry Floridians isn’t an economic storm, I don’t know what is. This is a crisis but an entirely solvable one. We can make sure Floridians do not go hungry. It costs a little more than $6 a day to feed someone. Isn’t every Floridian worth that?”

### Additional Recommendations

The letter further asks Gov. DeSantis to instruct the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement universal school meals programs for the duration of the declared emergency.

As of now, the governor’s office has not responded to requests for comment from Florida Phoenix.

—

*Reported by Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix*
https://flaglerlive.com/democratic-lawmakers-urge/

The 2025 November Elections Preview

Posted on by
Reply

A Breakdown of the Races in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey

Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Happy Tuesday!

A new app, Endless Summer, uses AI to generate images of you vacationing in places you’ve never been. Finally: a way to show off on Instagram without the authenticity or pleasure of a real holiday.

—

**Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories**

President Donald Trump met this morning with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, signing a rare earth minerals deal with the country. Reuters reported that Takaichi is set to announce new purchases of trucks, gas, and soybeans from the U.S., along with a new shipbuilding deal.

This comes ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, a discussion he hopes will yield a trade deal. The U.S. and China agreed to a framework for a deal on Sunday that addresses export curbs and tariffs, but the specific terms have yet to be finalized.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-sanctioned media reported Monday that Chinese fighter jets conducted “confrontation drills” near Taiwan. Taiwan’s defense ministry did not report any incidents and dismissed the news as a propaganda tactic. A Taiwanese general told Fox News that China’s military drills could be preparations for a blockade against the island.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson warned on Monday that the government could not reallocate federal funds to temporarily sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

—

**Insights and Opinions**

– Kyla Scanlon discusses how the American economy is coming to resemble a casino. *(New York Times)*
– Matthew Hennessey argues it’s the worst time to be a jewel thief. *(Wall Street Journal)*
– John Cassidy writes that Trump’s pardon of Binance’s founder shows presidential power going unchecked. *(The New Yorker)*
– Austin Vernon explores the feasibility of returning to a “nuclear fission regulatory blank slate.” *(Substack)*

—

**International Headlines**

– BBC: Trump says he had a “perfect” MRI at Walter Reed Hospital.
– 8NewsNow: Director of Las Vegas Committee Tackling DUI Issues Faces DUI Charge.
– Rudaw: Iraqi Husband Uses Own Picture on Wife’s Campaign Posters.

—

**About Our Reporters**

**Charles Hilu** is a reporter for The Dispatch based in Washington, D.C. Before joining the company in 2024, he was the Collegiate Network Fellow at the Washington Free Beacon and interned at both National Review and the Washington Examiner. When he is not chasing down lawmakers on Capitol Hill, he is probably listening to show tunes or following the premier sports teams of the University of Michigan and the city of Detroit.

**Peter Gattuso** is a Morning Dispatch reporter for The Dispatch, also based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the company in 2024, he interned at The Dispatch, National Review, the Cato Institute, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Peter is not fact-checking, he is probably watching baseball, listening to music on vinyl records, or discussing the Jones Act.

**Ross Anderson** is the Editor of The Morning Dispatch, based in London. Prior to joining the company in 2025, he was an editor at The Spectator, columnist at The New York Sun, and a Tablet fellow. When Ross isn’t working on TMD, he’s probably trying out new tech, lifting weights, or hanging out with his cat, Teddy.

—

**Stay Informed**

Click sign up to start receiving your newsletters and stay up to date with the latest news and analysis.

—

**Related Posts**
[Links to related articles would be inserted here.]
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/the-2025-november-elections-preview/

Food assistance to be halted as government shutdown drags on

Posted on by
Reply

The Trump administration has announced that federal food assistance programs will stop on November 1 if the government shutdown continues.

This development raises concerns about the impact on millions of Americans who rely on these programs for their daily meals.

Elise Preston reports on the implications and potential consequences of this suspension.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/food-assistance-to-be-halted-as-government-shutdown-drags-on/

H-1B Visas Have Become a Boon for “So-Called American Companies”

Posted on by
Reply

“So-called American companies say they have no choice but to use the H-1B program because they ‘can’t find Americans for these jobs,’” says InvestAzoria CEO James Fishback.

“Here’s the ugly truth,” he writes, “they’re not even looking for Americans. They refuse to interview them. They hide job postings in obscure newspapers to ‘check the box,’ and when no one ‘applies,’ they import another foreign worker—denying yet another qualified American a job, a wage, and the dignity and purpose that come with both. It’s disgraceful. It’s time to finally and fully dismantle the H-1B scam.”

A community note correctly points out that the postings are required by law and are legal, but this does not change the main point. American companies prioritize H-1B visa holders and abuse the program. They aren’t genuinely seeking American candidates.

Currently, several companies are suing against the $100,000 fee per applicant that President Trump imposed. The former president has vowed to fight these legal challenges.

### The Program Is an Exercise in Abuse

The H-1B visa program is often criticized for being exploited by employers to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign labor, particularly in the IT sector. This practice leads to wage suppression and raises national security concerns.

Originally, the program was designed to fill jobs that are specialized and hard to fill with American workers. However, widespread abuses have undermined the job market for Americans and fueled concerns about its integrity.

Ongoing investigations and regulatory changes aim to address these issues and ensure the program serves its intended purpose without harming U.S. workers.

### Legal Challenges to the $100,000 Fee

The Trump administration is preparing to defend its controversial new H-1B visa policy in federal court, following a wave of lawsuits challenging the $100,000 fee imposed on new visa applicants. The administration argues that this fee hike is necessary to protect American jobs and restore integrity to the skilled worker program.

However, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce contends that the new $100,000 fee is unlawful because it overrides requirements set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Specifically, the litigation asserts that visa fees must be based on the government’s actual costs in processing visas—a benchmark that the six-figure fee drastically exceeds.

In addition to the Chamber’s filing, a broad coalition of unions, employers, educators, and religious groups has filed separate lawsuits in federal courts across Washington, D.C., and California. These groups claim the fee is “arbitrary and capricious” and argue it will ultimately harm critical U.S. industries relying on high-skilled foreign talent.

### Impact on the Tech Sector

The tech sector, including companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, heavily utilizes the H-1B program to fill specialized roles. These legal battles reflect deep divisions over how to balance the needs of American workers with the demand for skilled foreign labor.

Despite these challenges, critics argue that many corporate interests represented by groups like the Chamber of Commerce have little regard for protecting American workers. Instead, their agendas often prioritize access to cheaper foreign labor.

—

As debates continue, the future of the H-1B program remains uncertain. Policymakers must carefully weigh the interests of American workers, employers, and national security to craft a fair and effective skilled worker visa system.
https://www.independentsentinel.com/h-1b-visas-have-become-a-boon-for-so-called-american-companies/