Key information
The Trump administration has suspended Microsoft's ability to apply for green cards for H-1B visa holders. Vice President JD Vance accused the company of fraudulently using the program to replace American workers with foreign staff, characterizing these employees as "foreign indentured servants." Vance claimed that for every worker laid off, Microsoft replaced them with one-and-a-half foreign workers.
Microsoft responded by stating that 80% of its approximately 6,000 H-1B applications in the previous fiscal year were intended to extend or change the status of existing staff. The company noted the remaining 20% were for new hires already legally present in the country. Microsoft also rejected claims that H-1B visa holders are paid less, asserting they receive equal compensation for comparable work.
While the company remains permitted to hire non-American workers on a temporary basis through the H-1B program, the restriction prevents it from sponsoring these individuals for permanent residency. This policy aligns with the administration's focus on domestic employment and mass deportations.
The suspension of green card application privileges occurred on the same day President Donald Trump awarded Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Other recipients of the honor included Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Michael Dell.
