Trump Hosts Top Tech CEO for White House AI Meeting

Patrice Onuuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women’s Forum, is set to discuss the Republican approach regarding artificial intelligence and its implications for America’s future leading up to the 2026 midterms.

The Trump administration introduced a proposal on Wednesday aiming to revise the allocation of H-1B visas. This program has been crucial for the high-tech sector, allowing U.S. companies to hire skilled overseas workers, including software engineers and data scientists.

The H-1B visa, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, serves as a temporary work permit vital for American tech firms seeking global talent.

The new proposal intends to nudge employers towards higher salaries and to prioritize H-1B petitions for roles demanding advanced skills. This rule change will officially appear in the federal register shortly after Trump’s announcement of a one-time $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.

Recent data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that from 2024 to mid-2025, Amazon was the leading recipient of H-1B visas, acquiring 19,301, while Microsoft and Apple followed with 9,914 and 8,075, respectively.

Despite being based in India, companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and HCLTech also hold a significant presence in the U.S. and compete for H-1B visas.

Interestingly, the top seven recipients of H-1B visas since June have all been high-tech firms, with J.P. Morgan, Walmart, and Deloitte appearing in the top ten.

The $100,000 fee, applicable only to new H-1B petitions, will be in effect for the upcoming annual lottery, which selects applications once the yearly visa cap of 85,000 is reached. USCIS reported this cap was met in July.