[vkou]

Law requires these fees to be ~essentially the cost of processing.

So that EO is almost certainly illegal, and will be litigated.

[throwaway95914]

I'm absolutely not a lawyer, so may be mistaken, but the fees for I-129 / DS-160 are not explicitly mentioned anywhere. Instead the fee seems to be an entry fee, which is orthogonal to the actual visa (meaning ; you can have a visa but not be granted entry, or maybe be granted entry under a different program but then with no lawful work permit).

Personal Experience: H1B/Work PERM/Personal PERM/EADs/Naturalization

[jrs235]

Assuming thoughtful intent is in use, perhaps this is a fishing attempt to see what corporations will challenge and litigate; an attempt to identify opposition and to add targets to punish next.