The Trump administration suspended eight technology companies from sponsoring foreign workers for green cards on Thursday, with Vice President JD Vance claiming that Microsoft replaced 6,000 laid-off workers in 2025 with holders of H-1B temporary work visas.
The suspension affects the Labor Department's PERM program, which grants permanent residency. H-1B visas, which provide temporary work permits, remain unaffected by the freeze. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data, Microsoft approved 6,258 H-1B visas in fiscal 2025, ranking third nationally. Vance's claim finds partial support in the data: Microsoft did receive more than 6,000 H-1B approvals last year. However, two-thirds of those went to people already employed at the company, not new hires replacing the laid-off workers.
Amazon and Meta emerged as the nation's two largest H-1B sponsors, with 19,178 and 6,294 approvals respectively in fiscal 2025, yet neither company faced suspension. Amazon's H-1B approvals have grown substantially since 2017, when it surpassed Microsoft as the top sponsor. Amazon now receives roughly three times as many approvals as Microsoft.
All eight suspended companies rank among the nation's top 50 H-1B sponsors. Most operate as IT services and consulting firms. Adobe, the smallest suspended company, ranks 45th nationally.
The crackdown extended beyond the H-1B program. The Labor Department's Inspector General, Anthony D'Esposito, announced an investigation Thursday into alleged J-1 visa fraud involving nine major American universities. Trump administration supporters have long argued that these visa programs reduce job opportunities for American workers by encouraging employers to hire internationally.