GCSAA’s ongoing advocacy for H-2B visa reform continues to gain traction on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan group of 34 U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Keith Sonderling, Secretary of the Department of Labor, urging the administration to release the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas authorized by Congress for fiscal year 2027. The effort was led by Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) and Michael Rounds (R-S.D.) and was signed by more than one-third of the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).  

The senators highlighted the persistent workforce shortages facing seasonal employers and emphasized the important role the H-2B program plays in helping businesses fill temporary positions when qualified domestic workers are unavailable. They also called for a timely release of supplemental visas to give employers greater certainty as they plan for upcoming seasons.  

GCSAA joined other members of the H-2B Workforce Coalition in encouraging Senate support for the letter. The strong bipartisan response reflects the growing recognition that seasonal workforce challenges continue to affect industries across the country, including golf course management.  

As rounds of golf have increased, so has demand for H-2B workers. Since the beginning of the pandemic, demand for H-2B visas for golf course maintenance positions has increased by 51%, while overall demand from the golf industry has risen by 73%. In 2025, golf facilities requested 17,295 H-2B workers, including more than 2,500 positions dedicated to golf course maintenance. 

Despite growing demand, the H-2B program remains capped at 66,000 visas annually for all seasonal industries. Through advocacy efforts by GCSAA and coalition partners, Congress has authorized nearly 65,000 supplemental visas annually over the past five fiscal years. GCSAA will continue advocating for both annual supplemental visas and long-term workforce solutions, including permanent cap relief through a Certified Seasonal Employer exemption.