WASHINGTON – Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act on Monday, legislation aimed at eliminating the H-1B visa program, a move that has ignited debate over its impact on American workers and the technology sector. The bill, formally announced on February 9, 2026, proposes amending Section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to phase out the program entirely by 2027.
Steube framed the legislation as a necessary step to prioritize American citizens in the job market. “Prioritizing foreign labor over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” Steube said in a press release. “Our workers and young people continue to be displaced and disenfranchised by the H-1B visa program that awards corporations and foreign competitors at the expense of our workforce.”
The EXILE Act’s introduction comes amid longstanding criticism of the H-1B program, which allows U.S. Companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations. Opponents argue the program depresses wages for American workers and facilitates outsourcing. Steube’s office cited several instances where companies allegedly used the H-1B visa program to displace American employees, including the layoff of 250 Disney employees in 2015 who were subsequently replaced by foreign workers, and the firing of 540 Southern California Edison workers in 2014, also replaced through H-1B visa holders from Indian outsourcing firms.
According to data provided by Steube’s office, more than 80% of H-1B visa recipients are nationals of India or China, with a disproportionate number being younger workers. The office also alleges the program has negatively impacted the medical field, preventing over 10,000 U.S. Physicians from accessing residency programs due to the influx of over 5,000 foreign-born doctors. Further, the office claims that Microsoft displaced over 16,000 employees following the approval of more than 9,000 H-1B visas in 2025, and that FedEx shuttered over 100 facilities in the United States due to its utilization of the program.
The bill’s introduction signals a renewed effort by conservative lawmakers to reshape immigration policy, according to reports. The proposal has already drawn criticism from business leaders and economists who maintain the H-1B program is vital for sustaining innovation and filling critical labor shortages in the U.S. Economy.
As of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, no immediate response has been issued by the Biden administration regarding the EXILE Act. The bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration, with no scheduled date for a hearing.
