Waukesha Times

Wisconsin State Representative Scott Fitzgerald has expressed concerns over the reliance on "foreign labor," describing it as a "broken system." He called for prioritizing American workers in U.S. jobs instead of utilizing programs like H-1B to fill positions.

"Relying on foreign labor is not a long-term solution, it's a broken system," said U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wi). "If we're serious about fixing this problem, we need to put American workers first in American jobs. For too long, the H-1B program has been used as a crutch, bringing in overseas workers instead of training and hiring our own citizens."

On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of certain H-1B "nonimmigrant" workers. The White House cited systemic abuse of the program, which they claim has replaced American workers with lower-paid foreign labor, suppressed wages, and harmed STEM employment and national security. Exceptions are allowed for highly paid workers deemed in the "national interest."

According to a press release by Fitzgerald, "President Trump’s action takes a critical step toward putting American workers back at the front of the line. If a company insists it needs specialized foreign labor, it can pay the one-time $100,000 fee, and that money goes right back into strengthening our country." He further said that drastic measures must be taken with the H-1B program because small or short-term fixes have not worked in the past and have often not been seriously attempted. Fitzgerald said this is exactly what the Trump Administration is doing: confronting the problem head-on and ensuring American workers receive priority.

The proclamation directs several federal departments to enforce these restrictions. The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and Department of State are tasked with verifying employer payments of $100,000 per H-1B petition, implementing new prevailing wage rules, and prioritizing admission of highly skilled foreign workers. A review is required within 30 days after the next H-1B lottery to assess whether these restrictions should be extended or renewed.

Fitzgerald represents Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. His previous roles include serving in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1995 to 2021 as both Majority Leader and Minority Leader. He graduated from Hustisford High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 27 years before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.