Trump Administration Questions Microsoft H-1B Visa Filings
The questions follow a global Microsoft services outage as the company faces scrutiny over its visa program use and layoffs.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Job Search
Live Poll
Should companies that lay off American workers be barred from hiring visa workers?
The Trump administration questioned Microsoft's H-1B visa applications after a global outage disrupted some of the company's services on Thursday. Most services, including Outlook email, were restored Friday morning, and Microsoft attributed the outage to a technical issue unrelated to cyber or AI agents.
Why it matters
The administration has criticized Microsoft for shedding workers while still applying for high-skilled visas, a dispute that touches on the government's stated concern about defrauding American workers. The scrutiny highlights how the H-1B and green card pathways are being examined for U.S. companies across the country.
Microsoft was approved for 6,258 H-1B visas in Fiscal Year 2025, up from around 4,700 the previous year, and laid off around 16,000 workers globally in 2025. It remains unclear whether the administration's questions will result in any formal review or changes to the company's visa status.
The players
Microsoft
Microsoft is a major American technology company whose workforce and visa program use have drawn federal scrutiny.
JD Vance
JD Vance is the Vice President of the United States who announced the suspension of Microsoft's PERM green card access in October.
Anthony D'Esposito
Anthony D'Esposito is the Department of Labor Inspector General who publicly questioned Microsoft's H-1B processing on X.
Brad Smith
Brad Smith is Microsoft's president and vice chair who has been cited in discussions of the company's H-1B hiring figures.
The details
Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito posted on X questioning Microsoft's H-1B processing, citing the company's stated capacity of 6,000 H-1B applications. Vice President JD Vance said in October that Microsoft's access to the PERM green card program was being shut off, a move Microsoft had used to apply for green cards for its visa holders.
Timeline
October 8, 2025: Vance announced suspension of PERM access for certain companies, including Microsoft, Adobe and Cognizant.
2025: Microsoft laid off around 16,000 workers globally amid questions about its H-1B use.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: A global Microsoft services outage affected some of the company's services.
Friday, November 13, 2026: The Trump administration questioned Microsoft's H-1B applications, and most services were restored.
Market Landscape
The scrutiny extends the October 2025 suspension of PERM green card access, which the administration imposed on companies it said were using the pathway to hire low-cost labor. Microsoft's position among the top 10 H-1B users places it at the center of a broader federal push to tighten the visa-to-green card pipeline for large employers.
Job seekers considering roles at large technology employers should watch for changes to H-1B and PERM eligibility, since visa access affects how many foreign-born candidates a company can sponsor. Workers already on H-1B status at affected companies may face more uncertainty as the administration reviews the program.
The takeaway
Visa sponsorship policy is becoming a factor in corporate hiring decisions, so candidates should check whether a prospective employer uses H-1B or PERM sponsorship before accepting an offer.
Further reading
For more on how visa rules shape hiring, see Job Search.
Live Poll
Should companies that lay off American workers be barred from hiring visa workers?
