The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft, Adobe and several other technology and IT services companies from a US program that helps skilled foreign workers obtain permanent residency, accusing the firms of fraud. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said the government will not accept any new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving the named companies.
The other firms suspended from the program include Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata and Wipro, according to TechCrunch and Reuters. Vice President JD Vance framed the move as a push to hire American workers: "Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers," he said at a news conference on Thursday.
Microsoft, Adobe and IT giants hit by visa crackdown
The suspensions target the permanent labor certification step, a key stage in the green card process for employers sponsoring foreign staff. By refusing new and pending applications from these companies, the administration effectively freezes a route many global tech firms rely on to keep specialized workers in the United States long term.
The list mixes US product companies like Microsoft and Adobe with large IT services and consulting groups — Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata and Wipro — that are among the heaviest users of US work visas. Microsoft and Adobe did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to TechCrunch.
Vance also said the administration would investigate nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, over allegations they are abusing a program that allows international students to come to the US and using it to undermine wages for American workers.
H-1B visas and why the program matters
H-1B visas are designed for highly skilled positions that employers may struggle to fill with qualified US workers, and tech companies are among the largest users of the program. Nearly three-quarters of approved visas go to workers from India, according to The Associated Press.
