Microsoft Faces Trump Scrutiny Over H-1B Use Amid 6,000 U.S. Layoffs

NewsData.io · United States · Oct 12, 2026

The Trump administration has targeted Microsoft over its simultaneous layoff of roughly 6,000 U.S. workers and continued use of H-1B visas and green card filings — including approximately 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards during the same period. The Department of Labor noted that a handful of tech firms under scrutiny have collectively requested nearly 3 million foreign workers since 2009. The administration is pushing to reverse the burden of proof, requiring employers to demonstrate genuine domestic labor shortages before visa approvals are granted. Staffing firms placing domestic tech talent should monitor this policy shift closely, as tighter H-1B scrutiny could increase demand for U.S.-based engineering candidates and alter client hiring strategies.