DOL Project Firewall Expands H-1B Enforcement with 175+ Investigations

The U.S. Department of Labor has opened at least 175 ongoing investigations into potential abuses of the H-1B visa program, part of a stepped-up enforcement push known as Project Firewall that began in September 2025. The effort targets employers suspected of breaking H-1B rules, with the stated aim of protecting American jobs while still allowing companies to hire foreign workers in specialty roles when truly needed. Officials say the investigations are active nationwide and will continue as the initiative expands.

What Project Firewall changes

Project Firewall marks a shift in both tone and tools. For the first time, the Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is personally certifying certain cases where the department believes there is “reasonable cause” to suspect violations. That secretary-certified process gives senior-level backing to deeper probes and signals tougher oversight of companies that rely on H-1B workers.

While the department has long enforced wage and posting rules tied to H-1B hiring, the direct certification by the Secretary underscores the priority placed on these cases under the current policy push.

Key concerns being investigated

Investigators are focusing on several familiar issues in the H-1B space:

• Wage underpayment
• Displacement of U.S. workers
• Questionable filings of labor condition applications (LCAs)

They are reviewing situations where job duties or worksite locations appear misrepresented, including arrangements that involve offsite or remote assignments. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the scope of these H-1B visa investigations is expected to widen as more tips arrive and as agencies share data across systems.

Interagency coordination

Project Firewall broadens the DOL’s coordination with other federal agencies:

• Working with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division
• Coordinating with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Sharing information with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Data-sharing and joint case reviews can reveal patterns of fraud, discrimination, or evasion. Officials can compare visa filings to payroll and worksite records, increasing the chance that inconsistencies trigger interviews, audits, or formal findings.

Possible penalties and enforcement focus

The penalties under review are not new, but the department is putting more weight behind them:

• Civil fines
• Orders to pay back wages
• Debarment from filing new H-1B petitions for a set period

Back pay is central in wage cases, and debarment can significantly limit a company’s future hiring plans. The department intends to test compliance in areas that have drawn criticism in past years, including:

• Proper wage levels
• Accurate job descriptions
• Timely posting of LCAs at all relevant worksites (including remote and hybrid locations)

Officials emphasize employer responsibility to account for remote and hybrid worksites as work patterns have shifted across many sectors.

How investigations proceed and what documents may be requested

Investigators have authority to request:

• Payroll records
• LCA postings
• Assignment details showing actual work locations

If documents do not match the facts submitted during visa filings, they can form the basis for formal charges. Employers using layers of vendors or staffing firms may face closer scrutiny—particularly when the true worksite or supervision structure is unclear. This is why accurate LCAs and transparent job descriptions are critical.

Impact on H-1B workers

H-1B visa holders may be directly affected by the probes in several ways:

• Enforcement can help foreign workers who were underpaid by pushing employers to provide back wages.
• If a company faces debarment or ends assignments during an investigation, some H-1B workers could face difficult choices about their immigration status and next steps.

The department’s coordination with the DOJ and EEOC is also aimed, in part, at spotting discrimination during investigations.

Remote work and posting requirements

The department stresses that employers must:

• Ensure LCA postings are made at all relevant locations, including client sites and home offices where required
• Keep clear records of any changes to job locations and duties
• Confirm wage levels match actual work locations when roles shift

VisaVerge.com reports many employers are reviewing internal checklists and compliance procedures under Project Firewall to reduce audit risk.

Broader policy implications and reactions

Project Firewall reflects a broader policy theme of closer oversight:

• Backers say the H-1B visa remains a legal path for companies that can’t find qualified domestic candidates, but it must not erode wages or displace U.S. workers.
• Critics will likely view the investigations as a needed correction after years of complaints about wage tiers and loopholes.
• Business groups may argue that sweeping probes and higher costs could slow hiring and projects, especially in industries that depend on specialized talent.

The department notes the initiative coincided with a presidential proclamation that added a $100,000 one-time fee on new H-1B petitions, intended to tighten oversight and raise costs for high-volume filers. The combination of higher fees, secretary-certified cases, and expanded audits signals that compliance stakes have grown.

Where to find baseline rules

For a federal overview of H-1B specialty occupations and program conditions, see the USCIS: H-1B Specialty Occupations guidance on wage obligations and petition procedures:

• USCIS: H-1B Specialty Occupations

Reading that background alongside actions announced since September 2025 shows enforcement shifting from guidance to deeper field checks.

Likely outcomes and near-term steps

As Project Firewall cases progress, likely outcomes include:

• Settlements
• Payments to workers (back wages)
• Public notices when companies are debarred

The department has not released a timeline for concluding the first wave of cases; formal decisions may take months. In the meantime:

• Employers are urged to review job descriptions, confirm worksite addresses, and ensure records are producible on short notice.
• Workers who believe they were underpaid or misled should expect investigators to look for patterns across related complaints, not just isolated reports.

The launch of Project Firewall in September 2025, paired with the at least 175 active investigations, sets a tougher baseline for the H-1B program. Federal officials are seeking stronger proof that H-1B hiring meets legal standards, that wages match promises, and that foreign hiring is used when truly needed — not as a shortcut at the expense of U.S. workers.