Texas Governor Freezes H-1B Hiring For State Agencies, Public Universities

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 16:39 IST

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has frozen new H-1B visa petitions for state agencies and public universities until May 31, 2027, aiming to prioritize Texans for taxpayer-funded jobs.

Texas Governor Greg Abbot. (Getty Images via AFP)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies and public universities to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions, tightening access to a programme widely used by higher-education institutions to hire skilled foreign workers.

In a letter sent Tuesday to agency heads, Abbott said the H-1B programme has been used in ways that disadvantage American workers, arguing that state-funded jobs should prioritise Texans. The suspension will remain in effect until May 31, 2027, marking the end of Texas’ next legislative session. The order does not apply to private-sector companies.

“State government must lead by example," Abbott wrote, stressing that taxpayer-funded employment opportunities should be filled locally wherever possible.

The move comes four months after US President Donald Trump overhauled the H-1B system by introducing a $100,000 application fee and prioritising higher-paid applicants — changes that business groups say could make it harder for US companies to attract global talent.

Data from a federal tracking website shows that state entities account for only about 5 per cent of H-1B visas approved in Texas in the most recent fiscal year. The bulk of approvals went to private companies such as Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Oracle Corp. and Tesla Inc..

Within the public sector, major H-1B users include the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Medical research institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, which together employ hundreds of H-1B holders could be particularly affected. The institutions did not immediately comment on the directive.

Under the order, state agencies and public universities led by gubernatorial appointees cannot sponsor new H-1B workers without approval from state labour regulators. By late March, they must also submit detailed reports listing existing H-1B employees, including job roles, countries of origin, visa expiry dates and efforts made to recruit Texas-based candidates.

Political analysts say the decision reflects broader Republican scepticism of the programme. “Since Governor Abbott can’t force private companies to stop using H-1B visas, this is a way for him to signal he is taking action against what many Republicans see as visa abuse," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.

Texas is not alone. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is backing a proposal to restrict H-1B visas for professors at state universities. The Florida Board of Governors is expected to vote this week on a plan to ban such hires for one year.

The Texas decision also aligns with the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included tougher border enforcement, limits on humanitarian pathways and increased scrutiny of employment-based visas.

Universities across the US rely heavily on the H-1B programme. As of 2023, about 58 per cent of postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering and health fields were working on temporary visas, according to federal data.

Abbott said Texas has invested billions in education and workforce development and should not depend on foreign labour for roles that could be filled locally. A Pew Research Center report found that College Station, home to Texas A&M, had the highest concentration of H-1B approvals in the country, with roughly seven approvals per 100 workers.

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