The White House has defended recent reforms to the H1B visa system, asserting that the program has been “spammed with fraud” for too long and that the President’s top priority remains strengthening the American visa system and protecting U.S. workers.

Responding to questions about changes to the H1B process and pending lawsuits filed by several agencies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration intends to fight the legal challenges.

“The President’s main priority has always been to put American workers first, and also to strengthen our visa system,” Leavitt said during October 23 press briefing at the White House. “We know for far too long, the H1B visa system has been spammed with fraud, basically, and that’s droven down American wages.”

Leavitt said the President is determined to “refine this system,” explaining that the new policies are part of that broader effort. “These actions are lawful, they are necessary and we will continue to fight this battle in court,” she emphasized.

Turning to the ongoing government shutdown, Leavitt said the country had entered its 23rd day without a funding resolution, accusing Senate Democrats of voting “12 separate times” to keep the government closed.

“Innocent Americans are suffering every day,” she said, noting that more than 500,000 civilian federal employees will miss a full paycheck, while small business loans worth nearly $4 billion are delayed monthly.

Calling it a “Democrat shutdown,” Leavitt said the closures are also affecting air travel nationwide. She pointed to temporary FAA ground stops at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports this week as examples of the growing disruption.

Leavitt said about 13,000 air traffic controllers are continuing to work without pay. “This is egregious and truly sad,” she said, adding that some have resorted to driving for rideshare companies to make ends meet.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, typically the busiest travel period of the year, she warned that continued gridlock could cause “significant flight delays, disruptions and cancelations in major airports across the country.”

Quoting airline industry leaders, Leavitt said pilots have urged Democrats to end the “dangerous political game.” She cited the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association and the Airline Pilots Association International, both of which have expressed concerns that the shutdown is undermining aviation safety and straining resources.

“The pilots have said that this shutdown is undermining ‘system’s safety, resources are stretched thin, negotiations are delayed, and strain grows daily,’” she said.

Leavitt also cautioned that the shutdown could disrupt funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports over 40 million low-income Americans.

“If Democrats continue to hold Americans hostage, there will not be enough funds to provide SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans on November 1,” she said. “Democrats are solely responsible for all of this unnecessary pain. Why are they doing it? To give taxpayer-funded health care benefits to illegal aliens, some of whom are violent criminals.”

Addressing questions about the new ballroom construction at the East Wing, Leavitt said the project is being privately funded by the President and will not cost taxpayers anything. She confirmed that the President has been personally involved in its design and that a model is on display in the Oval Office.

“With any construction project, there are changes” she emphasized noting that the White House will continue to update about the progress. “Just trust the process… it’s going to be a magnificent addition to the White House for many years to come.”

Leavitt also outlined the President’s Asia tour schedule starting today. The President will depart Washington on October 24 for Malaysia, where he will meet with the Prime Minister and attend the ASEAN Leaders Working Dinner on October 26. 

On October 27, he will travel to Tokyo for bilateral meetings with Japan’s new Prime Minister, followed by a visit to Busan, South Korea, on October 29, where he will meet the South Korean President, deliver keynote remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon, and attend the U.S.-APEC Leaders Working Dinner.

On October 30, President Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before returning to Washington D.C, for the Halloween celebrations on the same evening at the White House. 

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