‘For the good of India and H-1B visas’: Controversy over Vivek Ramaswamy’s crackdown on ‘broken’ Ohio University

Ex-DOGE gets into brawl after taking lead Vivek Ramaswamy His higher education reform plan has faced backlash over its potential to harm local universities and job opportunities, with MAGA critics claiming the plan could indirectly benefit India and H-1B visa holders.The controversy began when a right-wing social media user accused Ramaswamy, an Indian-American, of wanting to “shut down” key engineering and STEM institutions in Ohio, including the University of Akron, Kent State University and Central State University. The post claimed that the move would “eliminate global Ohio engineering competition to the benefit of India and H1B,” noting that the three agencies collectively employ about 20,000 people.The criticism comes after Ramaswamy published an opinion piece in the Columbus Dispatch in which he outlined a plan to reform what he called Ohio’s “broken” public university system. He stopped short of explicitly calling for school closures, but argued that falling enrollment and rising costs require structural changes.

“Ohio must reform its ‘decentralized’ public universities”: Ramaswamy

Ramaswamy wrote in the article that Ohio is facing demographic and educational shifts. “The number of high school graduates in Ohio has peaked,” he noted, adding that the number is expected to decline 17 percent by 2041. At the same time, fewer students are choosing four-year degrees, with enrollment falling from 59% in 2015 to 47.6% in 2021.He also pointed to rising costs, saying “the total cost of Ohio’s public colleges has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past 15 years,” putting increasing pressure on families.Ramaswamy said Ohio distributes its funds to a plethora of colleges and campuses, including 14 public universities, 24 regional campuses and 22 community colleges.He suggested not closing universities outright but turning those with fewer students into dedicated “centres of excellence”. “Specialization creates difference, and difference attracts students,” he wrote, adding that universities should focus on what they do best to improve quality and cut costs.Critics of “America First,” however, argue that such restructuring could have a disproportionate impact on smaller or regional institutions, potentially leading to job losses and reduced educational opportunities. Most conservatives have called for a total ban on H1-B visas. Ramaswamy is running in the upcoming Ohio gubernatorial election, where he faces Republican opponents including Kathy Pucci and is expected to face Democrat Amy Acton in the primary race. Vivek’s Indian heritage has become a major obstacle to his campaign in the already deep-red state. However, he has the support and endorsement of US President Donald Trump himself.