Netflix Co-Founder Supports Trump's $100K H-1B Fee Policy Impacting U.S. Tech Sector

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has publicly endorsed President Donald Trump's new H-1B visa policy, which imposes a $100,000 one-time fee on new visa applications starting from the March 2026 lottery cycle. Hastings views this fee as a way to ensure H-1B visas are allocated only for very high-value jobs, potentially eliminating the lottery system and providing more certainty for employers and workers. This stance is notable given Hastings' past support for Democratic causes and contrasts sharply with widespread opposition from Silicon Valley tech leaders who warn the fee will hinder startups and innovation by making hiring international talent prohibitively expensive. The White House clarified that the fee is not annual but a single payment applicable only to new petitions, not renewals or existing visa holders, helping to ease some confusion and panic among visa holders and companies. The policy has sparked turmoil in the tech sector, with companies urging H-1B workers to stay in the U.S. or return before the new rules take effect, while also stirring debate over its impact on the U.S. labor market and innovation ecosystem. Hastings also suggested the fee could fund American worker retraining programs, aligning with the administration's goal of prioritizing U.S. citizens in high-skilled jobs.