OPT and STEM OPT Elimination Rumors: What DHS's 2026 Review Actually Proposes
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 23, 2026
DHS is reviewing Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT, but has not proposed a rule to end either program as of August 2026.
🎓 Current OPT and STEM OPT rules stay in effect for now.
📩 DHS listed the review in the 2026 Unified Agenda under RIN 1653-AA97, a planning entry, not a rule.
⏱️ A real change needs a proposed rule, a public comment period, and a final rule. That process usually runs 12-24 months or longer.
🛂 Check reginfo.gov and studyinthestates.dhs.gov for the actual text before you believe a headline.
What OPT and STEM OPT Are
Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets F-1 students work in the United States in a job related to their degree for up to 12 months after graduation. Students who finish a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in an approved STEM field apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, for a total of up to 36 months of work authorization. Both programs run on regulations, not a law passed by Congress, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amends on its own through rulemaking, without a vote in Congress.
What DHS Confirmed in Early 2026
A letter attributed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, dated January 9, 2026 and made public in February 2026, said DHS is re-evaluating whether the current OPT framework serves the US labor market, tax base, and national security, according to Erickson Immigration Group . The letter points to a planning entry in the Unified Agenda, tracked under Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1653-AA97, that covers worker displacement, fraud prevention, national security, and stronger oversight of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
An entry on the Unified Agenda signals that an agency intends to write a rule. It is not a proposed rule and it does not change anything you do today. The 2026 Unified Agenda of Regulations , published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2026, lists thousands of similar planning entries across the federal government, most of which never become final rules on the timeline first floated.
What a Real Rule Change Requires
Before DHS changes OPT or STEM OPT, it must follow the notice-and-comment process set by the Administrative Procedure Act.
DHS publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register with the exact text of the change.
The public, including universities, students, and employers, gets a comment period, usually at least 30 days.
DHS reviews the comments and publishes a final rule, which sometimes differs from the proposal.
The final rule takes effect on a stated date, often 30-60 days after publication.
As of August 2026, no NPRM for OPT or STEM OPT has been published. Every claim you see online about a specific end date or new duration is speculation until that text appears.
Why the Rumors Spread
DHS has circled this ground before. Past proposals to cut or restructure OPT stretched on for years without becoming final rules, in part because universities, tech employers, and research institutions push back hard during the comment period. That history does not guarantee this review stalls too, but it explains why a Unified Agenda entry turns into a wave of alarming headlines before any actual text exists.
What To Do If You Are on OPT or STEM OPT Now
Keep following your current terms exactly. Report address and employer changes to your Designated School Official (DSO) within the deadlines your school already gave you, and check your SEVIS record status through your school's international office rather than a forwarded message. If DHS publishes an NPRM, your school's international office and NAFSA report it fast, so treat those as your verification source, not a social post.