Decoding H-1B: “Knowledge Transfer” is the Real Policy

Donald Trump’s apparent pivot on skilled immigration has been decoded by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Trump’s comments about needing foreign “talent” were not a sign of a softer H-1B policy, but of a new “knowledge transfer” strategy.
Bessent explained the policy as a “train and return” model. “I think the president’s vision here is to bring in overseas workers… for three, five, seven years to train the US workers,” he said. This is a temporary measure, not a permanent one.
The “go home” part of the policy is key. Bessent was clear: “Then they can go home, and the US workers will fully take over.” This distinguishes the policy from traditional H-1B programs, which are often seen as a pathway to permanent residency.
The justification is a skills gap. “An American can’t have that job, not yet,” Bessent argued. He cited industries like shipbuilding and semiconductors, where the US has lost its manufacturing base and its skilled labor.
Bessent called this plan a “home run.” It involves “overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers, then returning home.” This, he argues, solves the skills gap while protecting American jobs.