The Trump administration, under the leadership of newly appointed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, is poised to introduce significant reforms to the U.S. immigration system in 2025. These changes target two key areas: the U.S. citizenship test and the H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers.
On July 25, 2025, Edlow outlined plans to make the citizenship test more rigorous and to overhaul the H-1B visa selection process to prioritize higher-wage earners. These reforms align with Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which emphasizes economic contributions and stricter standards for legal immigration.
The U.S. citizenship test, officially known as the naturalization test, is a critical step for immigrants seeking to become naturalized American citizens. The test comprises two main components: an English language test (assessing reading, writing, and speaking abilities) and a civics test.
Currently, applicants study a pool of 100 civics questions and must correctly answer six out of ten questions asked during the interview. The test covers topics such as U.S. history, government structure, and civic responsibilities.
Director Edlow has criticized the current test as “not very difficult,” arguing that its format allows applicants to memorize answers without gaining a deep understanding of U.S. civics. To address this, the Trump administration plans to reinstate a more challenging version of the test used during Trump’s first term (2017–2021).
That version required applicants to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly from a pool of 128 questions, a significant increase in difficulty. Seniors aged 65 or older with 20 years of lawful permanent residency may still qualify for a simplified version of the test.
The goal of these changes is to ensure that new citizens have a robust understanding of U.S. history, governance, and values, aligning with the administration’s view that naturalization should reflect a meaningful commitment to American civic life.
Edlow emphasized that the current test’s simplicity undermines the “spirit of the law.” However, these changes will require approval through the federal government’s rulemaking process, which includes public comment periods and potential Congressional oversight.
The citizenship test has undergone several revisions in recent decades. Prior to 2008, the test was largely non-standardized, with questions varying by region. The Bush administration introduced a standardized test in 2008, setting the current 6-out-of-10 format.
During Trump’s first term, the test was made more difficult, but the Biden administration reverted to the 2008 version in March 2021, citing concerns about accessibility and fairness. A proposed redesign in 2024 was abandoned after negative feedback. The Trump administration’s plan to revert to the 2020-era test signals a return to stricter standards.
The proposed changes have sparked debate. Proponents argue that a tougher test ensures new citizens are better prepared for civic participation, reinforcing national identity. Critics, however, warn that increasing the test’s difficulty could create barriers for eligible immigrants, particularly those with limited access to education or English proficiency.
Immigration advocates, such as David Bier of the Cato Institute, argue that the test’s current format already adequately assesses civic knowledge and that a more complex test may disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The timeline for implementation remains unclear, but changes are expected to roll out in 2025.
The H-1B visa program, established in 1990, allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. The program is capped at 85,000 new visas annually, with 20,000 reserved for applicants holding a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
The current selection process uses a random lottery when applications exceed the cap, a system criticized for failing to prioritize the most qualified candidates. The program is heavily utilized by the tech industry, with companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon hiring thousands of H-1B workers annually.
The Trump administration is planning to replace the lottery-based H-1B selection process with a wage-weighted system that prioritizes applicants with higher salary offers. This reform, initially proposed in a January 2021 final rule during Trump’s first term, aims to ensure that visas are awarded to highly skilled, well-compensated professionals who “supplement, not supplant,” the U.S. workforce.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review, with publication expected soon, followed by a public comment period.
Additionally, the administration is introducing stricter job qualification requirements and higher fees, including a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250 for temporary workers.
The Colleges for the American People Act of 2025, proposed by Republican lawmakers, would also eliminate exemptions that allow universities and non-profit research institutions to bypass the H-1B visa cap, potentially limiting opportunities for foreign academic staff.
Edlow and other administration officials argue that the H-1B program has been exploited by some companies to hire lower-wage foreign workers, undercutting American employees. A study by the Institute for Progress estimated that prioritizing higher salaries could increase the average H-1B visa holder’s salary from $106,000 to $172,000, benefiting senior professionals and researchers while discouraging outsourcing firms that rely on lower-wage workers.
Supporters, including Vice President JD Vance, contend that these changes align with an “America First” agenda by ensuring that foreign workers contribute significantly to the economy.
The proposed reforms have faced pushback from the tech industry and immigration experts. Tech leaders, including Elon Musk and David Sacks, argue that the H-1B program is essential for attracting top global talent, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, where over 70% of U.S. graduate students in electrical engineering and computer sciences are international.
Critics like Doug Rand, a former Biden administration official, argue that prioritizing high-wage earners could disadvantage recent graduates and early-career professionals, who are often paid at lower wage levels (Level 1 or 2). A 2021 analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy found that international students would be 54% less likely to secure an H-1B visa under a salary-based system.
Moreover, some experts question the legality of the changes, noting that Congress has not authorized DHS to prioritize H-1B visas based on salary. The tech industry’s reliance on the program is evident, with companies like Google (5,300 H-1B approvals in 2024) and Meta (nearly 5,000) depending on it to fill skill gaps. Critics warn that restricting access could harm U.S. competitiveness in global innovation.
The H-1B debate has exposed divisions within the Republican Party. Tech-aligned figures like Musk support the program, while immigration hardliners, including Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer, criticize it as a “scam” that displaces American workers.
Trump has expressed mixed views, historically supporting restrictions but recently endorsing the program’s value. The administration’s broader immigration crackdown, including mass deportation plans and tightened asylum policies, adds complexity to the debate.
The changes to the citizenship test and H-1B program are part of a larger immigration overhaul under the Trump administration. Other measures include:
Visa Integrity Fee: A new fee of at least $250 for temporary workers, including H-1B holders, to fund immigration enforcement.
Asylum Restrictions: Tightened eligibility criteria and rescinded policies granting automatic deferred action for certain juvenile immigrants.
Increased Scrutiny: Enhanced vetting and biometric requirements for visa applicants, raising concerns about delays and procedural fairness.
These policies reflect a focus on “net positive” immigration, prioritizing economic contributions and national security. However, Edlow has ruled out reviving the controversial “public charge” rule from Trump’s first term, which restricted green cards for immigrants using public benefits.
For citizenship applicants, a tougher test could mean increased preparation time and potential barriers for those with limited English proficiency or access to resources. For H-1B applicants, particularly early-career professionals and international students, the wage-weighted system may reduce their chances of securing a visa, pushing them toward other countries.
Tech companies and other industries reliant on H-1B workers may face higher costs and administrative burdens due to increased fees and stricter requirements. Universities and non-profits could also struggle to hire foreign faculty if exemptions are removed.
Proponents argue that prioritizing high-wage H-1B workers will protect American jobs by discouraging companies from hiring cheaper foreign labor. Critics counter that the program fills critical skill gaps, and restrictions could lead to talent shortages in STEM fields.
The Trump administration’s planned reforms to the U.S. citizenship test and H-1B visa program represent a significant shift in immigration policy, aiming to align legal immigration with economic and civic priorities.
While the changes to the citizenship test seek to foster deeper civic engagement, they risk creating barriers for some applicants. Similarly, the H-1B overhaul aims to prioritize high-skilled, well-paid professionals but may disadvantage early-career workers and strain U.S. industries reliant on global talent.
As these proposals move through the rulemaking process, they will likely face legal, political, and economic scrutiny. Stakeholders, from immigrants to employers, must stay informed and prepared for these changes, which could reshape the U.S. immigration landscape in 2025 and beyond.