On October 29, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis publicly criticized the practice of hiring H-1B high-skilled workers at educational institutions. According to the Governor, the H-1B visa—which brings thousands of highly qualified Indians to the United States—is being abused, and universities are not producing enough qualified American graduates to meet the nation’s workforce needs.
In a press release from his office, Governor DeSantis directed the Florida Board of Governors “to crack down on H-1B Visa abuse in higher education.” He emphasized that Florida institutions must prioritize hiring American graduates and ensure that taxpayer-funded schools serve the American workforce, rather than being used to import cheap foreign labor.
The Governor stated, “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.” He made these remarks both in the press release and in a post on X. “We will not tolerate H-1B abuse in Florida institutions. That’s why I have directed the Florida Board of Governors to end this practice.”
### Concerns About H-1B Visa Use in Universities
The press release highlighted that H-1B visas are allegedly intended for hiring individuals for specialty occupations. However, many universities and institutions have hired foreign workers for positions that could be readily filled by qualified Americans. Furthermore, universities are exempt from federal H-1B caps, allowing them to hire foreign labor year-round without limitation.
### Ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives
In addition to addressing H-1B visa concerns, Governor DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Education (Florida DOE) has partnered with the Federal Department of Education (Federal DOE), the State University System, and institutional partners to cancel or repurpose millions of dollars in DEI-related grants.
The press release noted that Florida has repurposed or canceled DEI-related grants totaling more than $33 million. Several grants were canceled due to alleged non-compliance with state and federal laws regarding DEI-centric, discriminatory missions. For example:
– $1.5 million for “Challenging Anti-Black Racism in Civil and Environmental Engineering Curriculum,” focused on environmental justice and integrating an equitable and inclusive curriculum for civil engineers.
– $1.3 million for “Mobilizing Physics Teachers to Promote Inclusive and Communal Classroom Cultures Through Everyday Actions,” which aimed to promote inclusive and equitable practices for women and minority racial groups.
The Governor also cited examples where grants previously centered on DEI objectives were repurposed to align with state and federal law, including:
– A $1.5 million grant originally aimed at supporting “historically marginalized students” in STEM fields, now focused on financial background rather than race or ethnicity.
– Expansion of a $700,000 National Science Foundation grant, formerly designated exclusively for Black students, to include eligibility for all students regardless of race or background.
### Repurposing Grants in the Florida College System
The Florida DOE identified over $10.6 million in grants within the Florida College System to repurpose or cancel, citing examples such as:
– $454,000 allocated for “underrepresented populations” in drone work and avionics.
– $750,000 designated exclusively for minorities pursuing STEM degrees.
### Governor DeSantis’s Statement on Higher Education
In his post on X, DeSantis reaffirmed Florida’s leadership in higher education and the availability of qualified American graduates. He stated:
> “Florida leads the nation in higher education, and thousands of highly qualified Americans graduate from our colleges and universities every year. If any universities are truly struggling to find U.S. citizens to fill their job openings, they ought to evaluate their academic programs to determine why they cannot produce graduates who can be hired for these positions.”
The Governor’s recent actions underline Florida’s commitment to prioritizing American workers and re-evaluating federal and state funding toward initiatives that align with state policies.
https://newsindiatimes.com/florida-governor-ron-desantis-end-h-1b-hiring-in-higher-education-institutions/