Sponsors (37)
The bill would eliminate the existing administrative OPT pathway—giving Congress clearer statutory control and reducing some labor competition—while imposing large harms on international students, employers, universities, and local economies that rely on OPT participants.
Employers and U.S. workers who competed with OPT participants (e.g., middle-class workers) would face reduced labor competition if employer-tied student work authorization is eliminated.
Congress (and state governments/taxpayers) would gain clearer statutory authority and oversight over any program that permits work for F-1 students because OPT could only exist if enacted by law.
F-1 students would lose access to OPT work authorization, eliminating a common pathway to gain U.S. work experience after graduation.
U.S. employers—especially in tech and research and small businesses—would lose a key source of early-career talent, making hiring harder and potentially slowing innovation.
American taxpayers and local governments could face economic losses (lower wages, reduced tax revenue) tied to fewer international students staying to work after graduation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits OPT or successor employment authorization for F-1 students unless Congress enacts a statute expressly authorizing such programs.
Prohibits employment authorization for F-1 nonimmigrant students under Optional Practical Training (OPT) or any successor program unless Congress enacts a statute that expressly authorizes such a program. In effect, the bill would prevent DHS or other agencies from allowing F-1 students to work under OPT-style programs without an explicit law passed by Congress. This change directly affects F-1 students, the employers who hire them, and institutions that recruit international students; it does not appropriate funds or create new programs and does not specify an effective date in the text provided.
Introduced March 25, 2025 by Paul Gosar · Last progress March 25, 2025