Trump Administration Suspends Microsoft From Green Card Program

Covered by The New York Times, Aol and 10 more since

  • Microsoft
  • United States
  • Infosys
  • Wipro
  • Donald Trump
  • Cognizant
  • Capgemini
  • Tata Group
Blank immigration forms, a closed passport and a rubber stamp on a desk before a columned federal building in morning light.

What happened

On Oct. 8, 2026, the Trump administration suspended Microsoft from a Labor Department program that lets employers sponsor foreign workers on H-1B visas for green cards. Vice President JD Vance accused the company of abusing the system. Adobe and six IT outsourcing firms were also suspended, and nine universities now face investigations over J-1 visas.

Summary

Foreign workers at Microsoft who hoped the company would sponsor them for a green card have lost that path for now. At a White House news conference on Thursday, Oct. 8, Vice President JD Vance said Microsoft is suspended from the Labor Department's Permanent Labor Certification program, known as PERM. Before sponsoring a foreign worker for permanent residency, an employer uses the program to show that no comparable American workers are available for the job. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said Adobe and the outsourcing firms Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini were also suspended. He said no new or pending applications involving these companies will be processed. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [8] [12]

Vance said Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers in the last year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. He called workers hired this way "indentured servants," saying they must leave the country if they lose their jobs and earn less than Americans in the same roles. Sonderling said Microsoft and Adobe were suspended "due to multiple active federal investigations." The Washington Post reported that Vance offered no evidence for his replacement claim, and that it was unclear how long the suspension would last. In a blog post shared with Business Insider, Microsoft said 80% of its roughly 6,000 H-1B applications were for existing employees. [1] [2] [5] [6] [10]

The Labor Department's inspector general, Anthony D'Esposito, announced investigations into nine universities over possible abuse of J-1 visas, which bring international visitors to the U.S. for work and study exchanges. The schools are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California, Davis, Caltech, Arizona State and MIT. "Subpoenas have been served, investigations are underway," D'Esposito said. The universities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A few hours after the announcement, President Trump gave Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the National Medal of Technology and Innovation and praised his leadership. Nadella thanked Trump on X and did not mention the accusations. [1] [2] [4] [10]

Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 12 sources below. See all sources

Key questions

Can Microsoft still hire H-1B workers after the suspension?

Yes. The Washington Post reports that the suspension does not bar Microsoft from employing H-1B workers, but it could make the company less attractive to workers who want permanent residency. [6]

Which companies were suspended from the PERM green card program?

Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling named Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. He said these companies have requested almost 3 million foreign workers since 2009. [3] [4] [5] [8]

How did Microsoft respond to the accusations?

In a blog post shared with Business Insider, Microsoft said 80% of its roughly 6,000 H-1B applications were for existing employees and that most of its U.S. employees are Americans. Several other outlets reported that the company had not immediately responded to requests for comment. [1] [2] [10]

Sources 12

  1. 1The New York Times

    Trump Administration Suspends Microsoft From Green Card Program

    Vice President JD Vance singled out the tech firm as he and other officials accused several companies and universities of committing visa fraud.

    Read on The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2Aol

    The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's administration is suspending tech giant Microsoft from a program to apply for green cards for workers who come to the U.S.

    Seung Min Kim, Rebecca Santana

    Read on Aol (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3New York Post

    Trump admin cuts off Microsoft from major visa program, accuses tech giant of fraud and abuse

    The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a major immigration program that allows its foreign workers to transfer from an H1B1 visa to a green card, accusing the tech giant of fraud.

    Emily Goodin

    Read on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4USA Today

    White House targets Microsoft, universities in immigration crackdown

    Federal officials announced a crackdown on the use of legal immigration programs by companies and universities, suspending Microsoft and other firms from a program that allows businesses to bring…

    Read on USA Today (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5CNBC

    U.S. suspends Microsoft, Adobe from green-card labor program in foreign worker crackdown

    * The U.S. Labor Department announced it would suspend Microsoft and Adobe from its Permanent Labor Certification.

    Cj Haddad

    Read on CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6Washington Post

    Trump officials block Microsoft's access to program for employee green cards

    The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft's access to a program that allows skilled foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in the United States, saying the company is under…

    Lauren Kaori Gurley, Ted Hesson

    Read on Washington Post (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7Newsweek

    Green Card Update: Trump Admin Blocks Tech Companies from H-1B PERM Program

    The Trump administration blocked multiple tech companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, from applying for green cards for their H-1B visa holders Thursday, saying jobs would not be stolen from…

    Dan Gooding

    Read on Newsweek (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8Forbes

    Trump Administration Will Suspend Microsoft From Permanent Residency Program, Vance Says

    The Trump administration will suspend Microsoft from a program allowing workers to apply for permanent residency in the United States, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday morning, alleging the…

    Read on Forbes (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9The Wall Street Journal

    Vance Says U.S. Will Suspend Microsoft And Other Firms From Green Card Program

    Vice President JD Vance said the administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe and other tech firms from a green card application program.View more Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the…

    Michelle Hackman, Natalie Andrews, Philip Wegmann

    Read on The Wall Street Journal (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Business Insider

    Satya Nadella had an awkward White House day

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had a bizarre day. On Thursday morning, Vice President JD Vance hosted a press conference to announce that the US would suspend a major visa program for Microsoft's…

    Paul Squire

    Read on Business Insider (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11Yahoo! Finance

    US suspending Microsoft from visa program: Vance

    US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that software giant Microsoft was being suspended from a key visa program as part of a fraud crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration.

    Agence France-Presse

    Read on Yahoo! Finance (opens in a new tab)
  12. 12POLITICO

    Vance says Microsoft, Adobe barred from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards

    The Trump administration has halted the ability of tech giants Microsoft and Adobe to sponsor H-1B visa workers seeking green cards, Vice President JD Vance announced Thursday.

    Katherine Long

    Read on POLITICO (opens in a new tab)