Trump administration accuses Microsoft of worker visa program abuse and restricts access

The Trump administration has announced the suspension of several tech companies, including Microsoft, from an immigration program that allows employers to hire foreign workers for permanent residency in the US, according to a report by Reuters.

During a press conference, Vice President JD Vance criticized the permanent labor certification program, stating that it has been plagued by fraud in recent years. Vance specifically called out Microsoft for allegedly abusing the system by not hiring enough American workers. He emphasized the importance of American companies hiring American workers.

In addition to Microsoft, other companies such as Adobe, Cognizant, and Infosys have also been suspended from the program. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling claimed that Microsoft and Adobe had requested a large number of foreign workers and had received numerous visa approvals and permanent labor certifications.

Microsoft responded by stating that the majority of their H-1B visa applications were for existing employees and that they only hire individuals who meet the strict standards of the visa category. The company also emphasized that their H-1B employees are compensated at competitive rates.

The suspension of these tech companies is part of a wider crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, which also recently announced an increase in the price of H-1B visas, commonly used by Big Tech companies.

Update, October 8th: Microsoft has issued a response to the allegations.