US Launches Major Review of OPT Program: Is Post-Study Work for International Students at Risk?

The Biden-era stability for international graduates has met a new regulatory hurdle as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally initiates a comprehensive review of the OPT Program. 

In a letter dated January 9, 2026, and recently made public, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the administration is reassessing the scope and duration of Optional Practical Training. 

With participation surging by 21% to nearly 295,000 students in the 2024-25 academic year, officials are investigating if the current framework causes American worker displacement. This America First re-evaluation goes to the heart of post-study work rights. 

It makes thousands of F-1 visa holders from India and China, who make up most of the participants, wonder what their future in the American workforce will be.

Is the Optional Practical Training Program Being Overhauled?

The current scrutiny is not a mere procedural check but a potential regulatory shift. Because Optional Practical Training exists through DHS regulations rather than federal statute, the executive branch has the authority to modify or even eliminate the program without a new act of Congress.

According to the DHS letter addressed to Senator Eric Schmitt, the upcoming Spring 2025 Unified Agenda will include a notice of proposed rulemaking. The primary objectives of this review include:

• Worker Protection: Assessing if the program acts as a cheap labor pipeline for big tech and corporations.

• National Security: Investigating potential risks associated with foreign nationals in sensitive STEM roles.

• Fraud Prevention: Cracking down on visa mills and non-existent employers that exploit the SEVP system.

• Program Oversight: Enhancing the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s capacity to monitor active participants.

Current OPT and STEM OPT Statistics (2024-2025)

The growth of the program has become a focal point for critics. The following data highlights the scale of the current landscape:

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What does This Mean for the STEM OPT Extension?

For many, the STEM OPT extension is the most valuable part of the U.S. education value proposition. Critics like Senator Schmitt argue the three-year work period suppresses wages for American graduates. While the program remains active for now, the DHS has signaled a tightening of supervision.

Students who are currently on an extension or are thinking about applying for one should make sure they follow the rules. Changes to the rules could make the extension shorter or make the training plan audits stricter.

Official sources say that while getting rid of everything is an extreme step, higher oversight and stricter documentation requirements are almost certain to happen in the next few months.

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As the DHS moves forward with its rulemaking process, the future of the OPT Program hangs in a delicate balance between economic innovation and protectionist labor policies. While international students contribute billions to the U.S. economy, the America First lens ensures that Optional Practical Training will face its most significant regulatory challenge in a decade. Stakeholders must now wait for the Federal Register's official publication to see how these changes will reshape the American dream for global talent.