Trump's $100,000 OPT fee could gut America's STEM talent pipeline
US proposes $100k charge for international students to do post-graduate work
The Trump administration has proposed a rule that would force universities to pay up to $100,000 per international graduate working in the US under optional practical training (OPT). Some 420,000 students — a third of all international students — used OPT in 2025–26, and economists project enrollment could fall by up to 44%, with master's-level participation virtually eliminated. The Department of Homeland Security says the fee fights fraud; critics warn it would obliterate the main pipeline of global STEM talent into the US workforce.
If the new proposal and related restrictions are implemented, the combined measures 'will obliterate the pipeline' of talent.
- yummypaint
When we hit the academic brain drain tipping point in the US, talent isn't going to just start trickling away, it's going to be like a greedy cup siphon. Countries preparing to attract these people now will reap a windfall the US has carefully cultivated over a century. This administration has demonstrated the federal government cannot be trusted to keep it's commitments and long-term plans, and it will now take a generation of stability to disabuse people of that notion.
- TrackerFF
At least here in Scandinavia, the US is quite popular for the most ambitious and driven students that are interested in entrepreneurship. They apply to top US schools on either coasts via exchange programs, or a full degree, exactly because the schools are so close to the startup scene. Imposing a $100k fee to hire those, would effectively make such types of graduates very unattractive to startups.
- Gigioingiro
US keep pursuing this political agenda that goes against the whole foundation of the country rise as world superpower. I wonder how long it needs to last before Europe starts to roll serious academic policy that attracts the orphaned talent refused by US.
The Netherlands started well with the Tulip Fund but a systematic effort is needed. Korea is expanding his VISA grants for AI or tech top talents. Its the first time in decades where top world talent does not point altogether towards US and will be interesting to see which policy from other countries will reveal to be more effective. It's a tight window to take advantage of before the change in US administration so an economical effort in a short time period is required.
- gsky
Every country should block american big tech to create tech jobs for their people. This fixes americas immigration problem too
- rcr-anti
If memory serves, they've tried this several different ways but keep getting injuncted since it amounts to a tax and not a reasonable processing fee.
- 2PqboPPmKegvanx
speedrunning brain drain, you spend decades building a moat based on stability and proceed to end decades of work in 24 months.
- pagutierrezn
https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/...
- drivingmenuts
If the US imposes this charge, they will go somewhere else. Europe, maybe. China, maybe. We won't get the immediate benefit of their work like we do now. This will kill some graduate programs and constrain a lot of others. It is hard to see any positive benefits from this move.
If I were China, I'd move on this aggressively. If I were any country with a strong interest in STEM, I'd do the same. In fact, just the mention of this action should spur a somewhat aggressive response.