Vice President JD Vance has accused Microsoft of replacing 6,000 laid-off American workers with foreign hires on H-1B visas. The Trump administration suspended Microsoft and other tech firms from the PERM green card sponsorship program. However, H-1B visa data suggests that a majority of Microsoft’s approvals went to existing employees, while top sponsors like Amazon and Meta were not suspended.
Vance Accuses Microsoft of Replacing Laid-Off US Workers with Foreign Hires; Visa Data Offers Context
Published October 8, 2026
Key Points
- The Trump administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe, and six other IT firms from the PERM program, which allows companies to sponsor foreign workers for green cards.
- Vice President JD Vance alleged that Microsoft replaced 6,000 laid-off American workers with individuals on H-1B visas.
- Visa data indicates that approximately two-thirds of Microsoft's H-1B approvals in fiscal year 2025 were for employees already working at the company.
- Amazon and Meta, the largest sponsors of H-1B visas, were not included in the suspension.
In a significant move announced Thursday, the Trump administration suspended eight technology companies from sponsoring foreign workers for green cards. Among those targeted was Microsoft, which Vice President JD Vance specifically called out, asserting that the tech giant replaced approximately 6,000 American workers it laid off in 2025 with foreign hires on H-1B work visas.
While the suspension specifically targets the Labor Department's PERM program for green cards (permanent residency), it does not directly impact H-1B visas, which are temporary work permits. However, data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' H-1B Employer Data Hub sheds light on the reliance of these companies on foreign talent.
Notably, Amazon and Meta, the nation's two largest sponsors of H-1B visas, were not part of the suspension. Microsoft, though a significant H-1B sponsor, was third on the list, with its visa approvals heavily skewed towards existing employees.
The crackdown extended beyond major tech firms, with the Labor Department's inspector general also announcing an investigation into alleged J-1 visa fraud involving nine major American universities. This action aligns with long-standing arguments from Trump supporters who contend that such visa programs can lead to the displacement of American workers by incentivizing the hiring of foreign labor at potentially lower costs.
Who's on the List
All eight companies suspended from the PERM program are among the top 50 H-1B sponsors in the country. The majority are IT services and consulting firms. Adobe, ranked at No. 45, is the smallest company on this particular list.
The Biggest Sponsors Weren't Suspended
Amazon led the pack with 19,178 H-1B approvals in fiscal year 2025, followed by Meta with 6,294. Neither company faced suspension. Microsoft was a close third, securing 6,258 approvals according to USCIS data. While Microsoft historically out-sponsored Amazon, Amazon surpassed Microsoft in 2017 and now receives approximately three times as many H-1B approvals.
"If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants. ... Microsoft is a great American company, and we have a great relationship with them."
What the Numbers Reveal
The H-1B data presents a nuanced picture. While Microsoft did indeed secure over 6,000 H-1B approvals last year, as Vice President Vance stated, a significant majority (two out of three) were granted to individuals already employed by the company. In contrast, Amazon, which brought in nearly four times as many new H-1B workers compared to Microsoft, was not placed on the suspension list.
