Trump May Axe OPT Program, Threatening Thousands of Indian Jobs and Visas

(UNITED STATES) The Optional Practical Training program for F‑1 students faces its most serious challenge in years, with proposals to eliminate the OPT program moving quickly through Washington. As of August 25, 2025, no final law has passed, but the stakes are high and the window for certainty is closing. A bill filed on April 8—the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025—would end work authorization for recent graduates.

Backed by allies of President Trump and tied to the broader Project 2025 immigration agenda, the push has already sparked panic across universities and among employers who depend on newly trained talent. Indian students, who make up the largest share of STEM OPT participants, stand to face the hardest losses, with more than 300,000 students and graduates directly exposed to sudden changes in status and job prospects.

Current posture and immediate signals

Under Project 2025, the administration has said it wants to restrict or terminate both standard OPT and the 24‑month STEM OPT extension, citing labor protections and national security. The message has been clear enough that enrollment patterns are shifting before any law changes.

• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, reports in late July showed a year‑on‑year drop of about 28% in Indian student enrollment—a reversal university leaders say reflects fear the OPT program may end before current students graduate.
• Federal agencies have stepped up compliance checks, put employers on notice, and warned schools and students to keep records updated. While rules on paper have not changed, increased audits and requests for evidence are already creating day‑to‑day stress.

Officially: OPT and STEM OPT remain available today, but they are under active legislative and executive threat.

The agencies’ heightened scrutiny affects remote work reviews, training plan checks, and employment‑degree relevance queries. Universities report more site visits and follow‑up questions; employers report increased scrutiny of training plans and job duties.

Key numbers and stakes

The numbers show how wide the reach is and why industry and campuses are alarmed:

• 194,554 estimated OPT participants in 2024 (up more than 21% from 2023).
• 95,384 STEM OPT participants in 2024.
• Indian graduates account for about 48% of STEM OPT slots—roughly 45,800 people.
• Workforce estimates put 49,000 to 58,000 Indian graduates working on OPT in the U.S. tech economy right now.
• International students contributed about $40 billion to the U.S. economy in 2024 (tuition and daily spending).

If the legal bridge from study to work snaps, the ripple effects will reach far beyond campuses—affecting research output, regional economies, company projects, and families who financed degrees.

Policy moves and procedural status

• The pivotal date: April 8, 2025 — introduction of the Fairness for High‑Skilled Americans Act of 2025 to eliminate the OPT program.
• Since then, administration officials tied the effort to Project 2025, which also contemplates stricter H‑1B rules and merit‑based immigration reforms.
• From May to August, the administration signaled possible additional moves: new payroll taxes on OPT wages, added compliance hurdles, and limits to STEM extensions while Congress debates the bill.
• On August 25, policy drafts and briefings indicated rising enforcement and potential for faster executive action.

Important legal context:

• No statute has yet ended OPT. Regulations for 12‑month OPT and the 24‑month STEM extension remain on the books.
• The Supreme Court in 2023 upheld the STEM OPT extension, complicating rapid administrative rewrites without strong legal grounding.
• Nonetheless, agencies have tools to narrow or suspend program parts during litigation. National associations and universities are preparing lawsuits and quick injunctions to block abrupt shifts.

For authoritative guidance on current eligibility and rules, stakeholders should monitor the government’s OPT page exactly as published: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment/optional-practical-training.

Political backdrop and H‑1B interactions

• Historical context matters: during President Trump’s first term, H‑1B denial rates rose to about 24% (vs. about 4% under President Biden in later years). These trends shape expectations for graduates who normally use OPT as a bridge to H‑1B.
• If OPT disappears, the gap between graduation and a potential H‑1B start date becomes a cliff edge. The H‑1B cap is limited and selection is by lottery; missing the cycle usually means departing the U.S.

Impact on students, employers, and universities

Students:
– Many Indian master’s students pay $60,000 to $100,000 per degree (tuition + living). ROI depends on U.S. work experience through OPT.
– Without OPT, the common bridge to employer sponsorship largely vanishes for most graduates—leaving debt with no U.S. work history.
– Students report spending evenings on immigration forums and planning alternatives: transferring programs, accelerating or delaying graduation, or leaving for other countries (Canada, the U.K., Australia).

Employers:
– Tech and engineering employers warn ending OPT would cut a major talent pipeline, especially for skills in AI, data, chip design, power systems, and cybersecurity.
– Early‑career work is where degree-to-role matching is easiest; OPT keeps that channel open.
– Several Fortune 500 companies are reviewing training plans and contingency communications for sudden revocations.

Universities:
– Enrollment slide has started; STEM labs depend on graduate students for research output.
– Fewer international students mean pressure on grant goals, slower lab production, and tighter budgets for housing, dining, and campus services.
– International offices face constant inquiries from worried families and students; advising shifts from routine OPT workshops to emergency legal webinars and exit planning.

Arguments on both sides:
– Supporters of ending OPT: program is too large, lacks clear statutory base, and may displace entry‑level U.S. workers.
– Opponents: OPT has guardrails (training plans, wage protections, employer reporting, school oversight) and provides tuition revenue that funds programs benefiting U.S. students. Ending it may shift projects and jobs overseas rather than increase U.S. hiring.

What would happen if OPT ends — likely immediate steps

Common scenarios discussed by schools and firms include:

1. Graduating students would likely have to leave the U.S. quickly unless they qualify for another status—there would be no built‑in period to work after school ends.
2. Current OPT holders could lose work authorization if the program is terminated outright; agencies would likely set an end date for employment.
3. Employers would need to update records and, in many cases, separate employees who no longer have work permission, documenting the decisions for compliance.
4. Universities would provide emergency advising: alternate degree pathways, cross‑border options, or review of family‑based/other visa routes where applicable.

Timeline and legal response:
– The bill is in committee and could pass within months if prioritized. The administration might also attempt executive action.
– Lawsuits and requests for injunctions would follow; courts may issue temporary blocks that create a stop‑start enforcement pattern and more uncertainty.
– Students are advised to keep passports, I‑20s, job letters, and documentation of degree relevance ready in case records are requested.

Practical actions — what to do now

Students should:
– Confirm SEVIS records are current with correct employer details.
– Save job offers, pay stubs, and supervisor contacts in a secure folder.
– Talk with international advisors about backup plans if work ends early.
– Avoid remote setups that do not match degree training unless cleared by their school.

Employers should:
– Review training plans for STEM OPT workers to ensure duties align with degree fields.
– Prepare communication templates for sudden status changes.
– Coordinate with counsel on documenting good‑faith compliance.

Universities should:
– Keep advising lines open and publish clear updates after major policy moves.
– Offer plain‑language webinars explaining travel, grace periods, and status options.
– Work with local employers to place students in roles that clearly match degree fields.

Wider consequences and closing perspective

• Stakeholders pushing for policy change include analysts like Jessica Vaughan and former officials like Joseph Edlow; opponents include major tech firms that rely heavily on OPT and STEM OPT hires.
• The economic stakes are real: the $40 billion contributed by international students in 2024 supports local jobs and campus programs; losing students affects research output in areas like materials and battery science.
• For families: three points matter most:
  1. Nothing has changed yet in the rule text; initial OPT and STEM OPT applications remain possible under current regulations.
  2. The risk window is real—the April bill exists and the administration has signaled readiness to act.
  3. Documentation matters—keep job letters, degree records, training plans, and supervisor contacts accessible.

If payroll taxes on OPT wages are enacted, employers and students would face budget changes that could alter hiring decisions. And while some ask whether H‑1B can absorb OPT losses, the short answer is no—the H‑1B cap and lottery mean most graduates would have limited options without OPT.

The human factor: students who left home to study in the U.S., managers who built teams around new grads, and professors relying on graduate researchers are directly affected. Policy choices in the coming months will alter where the next generation of engineers, data scientists, and biotech researchers choose to study and work.

The OPT program has survived pressure before, with the 2023 Supreme Court decision reinforcing STEM OPT. But today’s push is broader. If Congress votes to end the program, the debate will shift to how to unwind it fairly. If executive action comes first, courts will be asked to pause changes while claims are reviewed.

For now, the advice from every advisor is consistent: stay alert, keep documents ready, and verify every claim against official guidance (see the USCIS OPT page) before acting. The clock is ticking for thousands already here—and for thousands more deciding whether to come.