Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is ordering the state’s university systems to halt use of foreign H-1B visas.
DeSantis on Wednesday told the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the system, to “pull the plug” on H-1B visas in favor of American workers. Employers like universities often use H-1B visas to employ foreign workers in “specialty occupations.”
Universities across the country are importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job. We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions. That’s why I have directed the Florida Board of Governors to end this… pic.twitter.com/dw3n8Ho5BK
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 29, 2025
“We can do it with our residents in Florida or with Americans,” the governor said during a news conference. “And if we can’t do it then man, we need to really look deeply about what is going on with this situation.”
DeSantis listed off examples of H-1B visa jobs in the system that could be for American workers, like a public policy professor from China, an assistant swim coach from Spain, and a graphic designer in the athletic department from Canada.
🚨 BREAKING: In a bombshell moment, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ABOLISHES H-1B VISAS from being used at state universities
"We can do it with Florida RESIDENTS or AMERICANS! If we can't? Then man, we need to REALLY look deeply at what's going on with this situation!"
DeSantis… pic.twitter.com/u0ri9JM5SP
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 29, 2025
“We need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities,” he said, adding universities’ use of the visas have been “in some respects cheap labor” brought in to save money and “not bringing an Einstein from a foreign country.”
Florida DOGE also found $33 million in DEI-related grants that it has cancelled or repurposed, the governor’s office said.
