JD Vance Freezes Microsoft Green Cards

immigration forms with green card and social security card on US flag background — Photo: Mehaniq / Shutterstock

Vice President JD Vance announced the government is pulling Microsoft out of a key visa program, accusing the tech giant of laying off 6,000 American workers while bringing in thousands of foreign hires.

Quick Take

Vice President JD Vance announced Microsoft’s suspension from the PERM green card program at a White House press conference on October 8, 2026.
Officials allege Microsoft cut 6,000 American jobs while securing 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards.
Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said the department will not process any new or pending Microsoft applications under the program.
Adobe and several other major tech and outsourcing firms were suspended in the same action, signaling a wider crackdown.
The suspension freezes future filings but does not cancel green cards already approved or change current visa holders’ status.

Vance Announces Microsoft’s Removal From Visa Program

Vice President Vance told reporters at the White House that Microsoft is being suspended from the Permanent Labor Certification program, known as PERM. He said the move came after an investigation found the company misused the system meant to protect American jobs. Vance called the practice exploitative, describing H-1B workers as stuck in jobs because their legal status depends on staying employed.

PERM is the Labor Department’s check on employer-sponsored green cards. Companies must prove no qualified American worker wants the job and that hiring a foreign worker won’t hurt wages or working conditions. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said at the same event that his department “will not accept any new or any process any pending” Microsoft applications under the program.

Officials Cite Specific Numbers Behind the Claim

Vance pointed to figures he said prove the pattern: Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers while receiving 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. The administration used those numbers to argue the company replaced domestic staff with foreign labor rather than filling true skill gaps. News coverage of the announcement did not detail which Microsoft job categories or filing dates the numbers cover.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the announcement. That leaves the government’s account as the only detailed version of events so far, though the enforcement action itself is a documented fact, not just a claim.

Crackdown Extends Beyond One Company

Microsoft wasn’t suspended alone. Adobe and several major outsourcing firms faced the same action, according to multiple reports, pointing to a broader enforcement sweep rather than a move aimed only at Microsoft. Indian IT firms including Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant were also named in the suspension, based on separate coverage of the announcement.

Administration suspends eight tech companies from green card program and subpoenas nine universities

The U.S. Labor Department has stopped processing green card sponsorship applications from Microsoft, Adobe and six of the world's largest IT outsourcing firms.

Labor Secretary…

— GMitchell (@GMitchellDaily) October 8, 2026

Vance said the suspensions would stay in place indefinitely, lasting until the administration is satisfied its concerns have been addressed. Reports also note the suspension blocks new or pending filings going forward but does not cancel green cards already approved, and it does not change the legal status of workers currently employed under existing visas.

What the Action Does and Does Not Prove

A PERM suspension is an administrative enforcement step, not a criminal charge or court finding of fraud. It freezes processing rather than adjudicating guilt in any single case. The public remarks from Vance and Sonderling describe a pattern of alleged abuse but do not name specific applications, job titles, or dates tied to the claimed misconduct.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced federal immigration scrutiny. In a past case, the Justice Department settled claims that Microsoft improperly pressured already-authorized workers, including green card holders and refugees, to seek employer sponsorship they didn’t need. That history adds context but is a separate matter from the current PERM suspension.

For now, the suspension stands as a clear and documented government action with real consequences for future hiring. Whether the underlying fraud allegations hold up will depend on evidence the Labor Department has not yet made public, including the specific filings and investigation records behind Vance’s numbers.