The Trump administration has suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and several other technology companies from a US program designed to help skilled foreign workers gain permanent residency. The administration has accused these companies of fraud.
US Vice President JD Vance stated that the message to Microsoft is to "hire great American workers." Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling confirmed that no new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving the suspended companies would be accepted.
Other firms suspended from the program include Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata, and Wipro. The administration also announced an investigation into nine universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, over allegations of abusing a program for international students and undermining American wages.
H-1B visas are intended for highly skilled positions that employers may find difficult to fill with qualified US workers. Tech companies are among the largest users of this program, with nearly three-quarters of approved visas reportedly going to workers from India.