To discourage US companies from hiring international students in the United States, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program is likely to be discontinued or significantly amended.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new OPT rule, aiming to better align practical training with the program’s goals and objectives. The proposed rule seeks to amend regulations to combat fraud and national security issues, safeguard U.S. workers from displacement by foreign students, and improve oversight of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
The Optional Practical Training program faces criticism from the American workforce, which argues that it prioritizes foreign students and workers over American workers, thereby ignoring the needs of local job seekers.
The OPT program is criticized for being established through regulation instead of Congressional action, raising concerns about its status as a significant temporary worker program without adequate protections for U.S. workers.
Opposition to OPT Program
US lawmakers have also proposed the ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025,’ aiming to abolish the Optional Practical Training Program. Representative Paul A. Gosar argues that the OPT program negatively impacts American workers by allowing employers to hire lower-cost foreign labor.
Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at the Center, suggested that Congress evaluate visa categories such as Optional Practical Training for potential tighter management or elimination.
Some US lawmakers are suggesting taxing the earnings of international students in the Optional Practical Training program by eliminating their current exemption from FICA taxes.
What is OPT Program
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment opportunity for international F-1 students in the US, enabling them to work in American companies either during or after their studies. Students can engage in OPT for up to 12 months, with a 24-month extension for those holding STEM degrees.
According to the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Educational Exchange, in the 2024–2025 academic year, the number of international graduate, undergraduate and non-degree students showed a decline of 2% to 4% but the number of international students who remained in the United States to gain practical work experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT) grew by 21% to reach 294,253.
DHS’s proposed rule indicates that the OPT program is expected to continue, although U.S. companies may face stricter regulations when hiring foreign students.