Senator Rick Scott Takes Bold Stand
End the Program Giving American Jobs to Foreign Graduates
Let me tell you a story about everyday Americans getting pushed to the back of the line in their own country. For years, a program most folks have never heard of — called Optional Practical Training (OPT) — has let companies hire foreign college graduates, including tens of thousands from Communist China, while giving those employers special tax breaks. American kids who worked hard through school and played by the rules often lose out on those same jobs. Now Senator Rick Scott of Florida is fighting back with real legislation to shut this down. His Prioritizing American Talent Act would stop the Department of Homeland Security from spending taxpayer money to support the program. This is about fairness, protecting American workers, and keeping our country secure. It’s common-sense leadership that puts America and her people first again.
• Original Article
Title: SCOOP: Rick Scott Moves to Terminate DHS Program That Incentivizes Hiring Foreign Grads (Daily Signal, June 18, 2026)
Summary: Senator Rick Scott introduced the Prioritizing American Talent Act to end the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. OPT lets international students work in the U.S. for up to nearly four years after graduation, with tax incentives for employers. Scott argues it disadvantages American workers and creates national security risks, especially from Chinese students accessing sensitive technology. (72 words)
Read More: https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/18/scott-moves-to-end-dhs-program/
• Related Article 1
Title: Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Defund Optional Practical Training Program, Prioritize American Workers (Rick Scott Senate Press Release, June 18, 2026)
Summary: Senator Scott’s bill would permanently prohibit DHS funding for OPT, which allows over 33,000 Chinese students and other foreign graduates to work in American jobs. The legislation aims to make more opportunities available for U.S. workers and direct any savings back to the Treasury. Scott emphasizes ending a system that imports foreign labor under the guise of training. (68 words)
Read More: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/6/sen-rick-scott-introduces-legislation-to-defund-optional-practical-training-program-prioritize-american-workers
• Related Article 2
Title: Optional Practical Training (OPT) for Foreign Students in the United States (Congressional Research Service Report, May 30, 2025)
Summary: This CRS report explains that OPT has grown into a large-scale temporary worker program. Critics argue it displaces U.S. students and graduates, bypasses H-1B limits, and poses national security risks. Some lawmakers have proposed eliminating or restricting the program, while others support it for attracting skilled talent. (64 words)
Read More: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12631
• Related Article 3
Title: Optional Practical Training Program (OPT) (Center for Immigration Studies)
Summary: The Center for Immigration Studies describes OPT as a never-Congressionally-authorized subsidy for employers hiring foreign graduates over Americans. The program has expanded significantly, creating unfair competition for U.S. workers and raising concerns about fraud, wage suppression, and security vulnerabilities. (58 words)
Read More: https://cis.org/Immigration-Topic/Optional-Practical-Training-Program-OPT