Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday a temporary pause on all new H-1B visa applications submitted by public universities and state agencies, a move that places state government hiring practices under tighter scrutiny while lawmakers consider long-term changes.
The pause will remain in effect until the Texas Legislature takes up the issue when it reconvenes in January 2027.
According to Abbott, the freeze is intended to give both state and federal officials time to address concerns surrounding the use of the H-1B visa program in government employment. He said the pause “will provide time for the Texas Legislature to establish statutory guardrails for future employment practices regarding federal visa holders in state government, for the U.S. Congress to modify federal law, and for the Trump Administration to implement reforms aimed at eliminating abuse of this visa program.”
What the H-1B Program Is — and Why It’s Under Review
The H-1B visa program allows employers to hire “nonimmigrant aliens as workers” in specialized occupations when they cannot find qualified workers in the U.S. workforce. The program is meant to supplement domestic labor, not replace it.
In his letter announcing the pause, Abbott emphasized that distinction, writing that “the federal H-1B visa program was created to supplement the United States’ workforce — not to replace it.” He added that “evidence suggests that bad actors have exploited this program by failing to make good-faith efforts to recruit qualified U.S. workers before seeking to use foreign labor.”
Abbott also pointed to more extreme cases, stating, “In the most egregious schemes, employers have even fired American workers and replaced them with H-1B employees, often at lower wages.”
Before laying out the specifics of the directive, Abbott made clear that he believes state government should set a standard for hiring practices, noting, “State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities — particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars — are filled by Texans first.”
What the Directive Does
The order includes several key components.
First, no Texas agency led by a governor-appointed official, as well as no “public institution of higher education,” may file a new petition to sponsor a worker under the federal H-1B visa program without approval from the Texas Workforce Commission. This restriction will remain in place until the end of the Texas Legislature’s 90th Regular Session on May 31, 2027.
Second, affected agencies and public universities are required to submit a detailed report to the Texas Workforce Commission by March 27, 2026. That report must include information such as how many new and renewal H-1B petitions were submitted in 2025, the countries of origin of currently sponsored visa holders, and documentation showing efforts made to give qualified Texas candidates “a reasonable opportunity to apply for each position fill.”
Finally, Abbott directed that the Texas Workforce Commission “shall issue any guidance necessary to effectuate these directives,” giving the agency authority to oversee compliance and clarify expectations.
Broader Context
Abbott had hinted at the move a day earlier during an interview with radio host Mark Davis, saying he was “looking into the extent to which Texas taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for any of these people.”
While the pause does not cancel existing H-1B visas, it places a temporary stop on new sponsorships and adds reporting requirements that could shape future policy decisions. Supporters see the move as a way to prioritize Texas workers and increase transparency, while critics are likely to raise concerns about staffing challenges at public universities and agencies that rely on specialized talent.
