American Tech Workforce Act of 2025

S 2821, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2025, directly affects U.S. tech companies and foreign workers in H-1B visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. It terminates the OPT program (ending work authorization for international students after graduation) and raises the H-1B wage floor to $150,000 annually (adjusted for inflation), requiring employers to pay at least the wage of comparable U.S. workers. The bill also prohibits H-1B visas for work at third-party client sites unless the assignment is specific and continuous, and mandates prioritizing higher-paying H-1B petitions. These changes aim to reduce reliance on foreign labor at below-market wages in the tech sector.