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The Trump administration’s recent mandate requiring companies to pay $100,000 for each new H-1B visa is already sending shockwaves through America’s tech ecosystem. Designed to prioritize domestic workers and curb perceived exploitation by outsourcing firms, the policy is having an immediate impact on small businesses and venture-backed startups, raising questions about the future of innovation and talent acquisition in the US. Entrepreneurs and recruiters describe a rapidly changing hiring environment. Startups that once relied on international talent are pausing recruitment, reevaluating budgets, and scrambling to fill specialized roles. While the administration frames the measure as protection for American workers, critics warn that it could inadvertently slow growth in sectors

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