The priority for H-1B policy is pivoting to “knowledge transfer,” according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This new focus explains Donald Trump’s recent comments about needing foreign “talent,” which Bessent says were not about a softer immigration stance.
The new policy is “Come to US, train American workers, go home.” This reframes the skilled immigrant as a temporary instructor, not a long-term employee.
Bessent detailed the vision: “I think the president’s vision here is to bring in overseas workers… for three, five, seven years to train the US workers.” At the end of this period, “they can go home,” and Americans “will fully take over.”
This policy is a response to a skills gap. “An American can’t have that job, not yet,” Bessent stated, pointing to neglected industries like semiconductors and shipbuilding.
Bessent called this “train and return” model a “home run.” It uses “overseas partners” as a tool to “teach American workers,” ensuring the domestic workforce is the long-term beneficiary.