To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: The Optional Practical Training Program for F-1 students (OPT) is not illegal, a federal judge has ruled in a case brought by Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (Washtech), a union representing workers in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. Criticism of OPT; Increased Scrutiny Despite evidence that OPT is good for the economy and does not limit job opportunities for U.S. workers, opponents have questioned the program for years. In 2012, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether the program might undermine U.S. workers. Similarly, the Trump Administration has talked about reforming the OPT program since 2017, when a new proposed rule “intended to reduce fraud and abuse” appeared on the 2017 DHS Regulatory Agenda. While no large-scale reforms have materialized, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has increased scrutiny of the programs, announcing increased compliance inspections at worksites and talking about targeting Designated Student Officials (DSOs) at universities who approve OPT.