An investigation found that profit‑motivated sponsors co‑opted the J‑1 cultural‑exchange program, charging excessive fees and undermining protections for young workers that the visa scheme is meant to provide. The reporting documents how sponsors diverted the program toward revenue generation rather than participant training, creating exploitation risks for international students and recent graduates who rely on J‑1 placements tied to universities and host employers. University international‑office directors should re‑audit partner sponsors, tighten vetting standards, and demand transparent fee structures as regulators and Congress weigh reforms to restore program integrity.