Florida Governor DeSantis Orders Universities to End H-1B Hiring
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the state’s publicly funded universities to stop hiring workers on H-1B visas. He argued that these positions should be reserved for American citizens. The announcement was made in Tampa, where he told the Florida Board of Governors to “pull the plug” on H-1B hiring in higher education.
Rationale Behind the Decision
DeSantis said many roles at Florida universities, including assistant professors, data analysts, and coaches, are being filled by foreign workers despite qualified Americans being available. He described this as “H-1B abuse” and criticised the reliance on foreign labour in state institutions. Federal records show Florida approved thousands of H-1B visas across sectors in 2025, including a significant number in education.
Challenges and Implications
The governor’s directive, however, faces limitations since H-1B visas are issued under federal authority. Universities may find it difficult to comply without affecting their staffing needs. Critics warn the move could harm Florida’s ability to recruit top international talent, affecting research quality and global collaboration in key academic areas.
