The U.S. government under the Trump administration has suspended major technology companies, including Microsoft and Adobe, from participating in a green card program designed for skilled foreign workers. The move, announced by Vice President JD Vance, accuses these firms of fraudulently using the program to hire foreign workers over American candidates. Alongside Microsoft and Adobe, other significant firms such as Capgemini, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata, and Wipro were also barred from new and pending permanent labor certification applications.

The administration's stance underscores its commitment to prioritizing American workers in the technology sector. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling confirmed no future applications related to these companies would be accepted, reflecting growing scrutiny over skilled worker visa use. The H-1B visa program, central to this issue, is meant to fill roles that U.S. employers find challenging to staff domestically, with Indian nationals comprising a large share of recent visa recipients.

In response, Microsoft defended its hiring practices, emphasizing that the majority of its U.S. employees are American. The company noted that 80% of its H-1B visa applications in the previous fiscal year were for status extensions or changes among current employees. Microsoft highlighted that new employee filings under H-1B represented only 1% of its U.S. workforce and asserted it adheres strictly to visa standards while offering equal pay for comparable jobs.

Beyond these company suspensions, Vice President Vance also revealed plans to investigate prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford for alleged abuse of international student visa programs. The administration suggests these institutions might be undermining American wages through improper use of student visa arrangements, signaling a broader crackdown on policies that purportedly disadvantage the domestic labor market.