By Madeline Ottilie
Publication Date: 2026-10-08 23:55:00
REDMOND, Wash. — The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from using a program that allows it to apply for green cards for workers who are in the U.S. on H-1B visas
These visas are used for filling highly skilled roles predominantly in the tech industry.
The action won’t stop Microsoft from hiring workers on H-1B visas but could make the company less competitive when trying to recruit foreign workers who want to stay in the U.S. long-term.
On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft of fraud.
“You cannot lay off American workers and then replace them with foreign indentured servants,” he said.
Vance said Microsoft laid off 6,000 American employees last year but obtained 6,300 H-1B visas.
Microsoft pushed back on Vance’s claims, noting that a majority of its U.S. employees are Americans.
The company said 80% of its 6,000 H-1B visa applications last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing Microsoft employees.
“These were not to hire new…