White House suspends Microsoft’s green card sponsorships

The White House has barred Microsoft from filing new green-card applications for employees under the Permanent Labor Certification program, alleging abuse of the system to replace workers with lower-cost foreign labor. The suspension was disclosed in recent reports, following public accusations earlier this week.

While Microsoft is the only company named in the announcement, earlier reports suggested the government may have been reviewing similar applications from other firms. No formal action against those companies has been confirmed.

The move reflects growing scrutiny of visa programs that tech companies use to retain skilled workers. Microsoft, which has expanded AI tools like Copilot across its enterprise products, has historically used such programs to transition visa holders to permanent residency. A company spokesperson declined to comment.

For startups and enterprises, the suspension raises questions about future access to talent pipelines.

Sources: siliconangle.com