Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump’s administration plans a temporary initiative that would bring foreign visa holders to the United States to train American workers in specialized industries. The trainees would return to their home countries once the training ends.
“Train the US workers. Then, go home. Then, the US workers fully take over,” Bessent said, according to the Economic Times.
Bessent said the effort would help address America’s skills gap in industries that declined over time. “An American can’t have that job — not yet,” he said, according to India Today.
“We haven’t built ships or semiconductors here for years. Overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers — that’s a home run,” Bessent added.
His comments followed President Trump’s recent interview with Fox News. The president said the country lacks some specialized skills and must rely on foreign experts to train domestic workers.
“[America] doesn’t have certain talents,” Trump said. “You can’t take people off the unemployment line and say, ‘We’re going to make missiles,’” he added.
Bessent also described the administration’s broader economic agenda. He pointed to a direct financial rebate for American households. “The president’s talking about a $2,000 rebate,” Bessent said. “It’s part of ensuring families feel the benefits of strong trade policy.”
Debates over foreign work visas remain active in national politics. Supporters argue that these programs help transfer essential knowledge to U.S. workers. Critics say they take jobs away from Americans.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Instruments announced another round of layoffs in North Texas. Federal filings show the company continues to seek approval to import hundreds of foreign workers under the H-1B visa program for its Dallas-Fort Worth facilities. A recent Texas Workforce Commission WARN notice showed that Texas Instruments plans to lay off 19 employees at its Sherman plant in Grayson County by December 12.