FTC Chair Slams Y Combinator Partner for Dismissive Remarks About Americans

On Wednesday, Ankit Gupta, a U.S.-born general partner at Y Combinator, posted a sarcastic comment about American attitudes toward H-1B visa workers, invoking the term “flyover country.” The tweet drew an immediate response from FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, who warned that affluent investors should not undermine American workers and hinted that Y Combinator might be a front for progressive interests. Ferguson’s criticism echoed broader calls from officials, including Vice President JD Vance, to limit the displacement of U.S. graduates by low-cost foreign talent.

Garry Tan, the Canadian-born president of Y Combinator, defended the accelerator, stating it supports hiring and funding of Americans, while also outlining his own policy positions on San Francisco policing, public schools and housing. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over the H-1B program and its impact on the domestic labor market. Other tech figures such as Palmer Luckey have also argued that Americans could fill these roles, adding to the debate within Silicon Valley.