Lawmakers Question U.S. Firms on H-1B Visa Hiring Amid Layoffs
U.S. lawmakers are pressing major companies—including Apple, Amazon, and JPMorgan—to explain why they are hiring thousands of foreign workers through the H-1B visa program while cutting jobs in other areas.
Senators Demand Transparency on H-1B Usage
The letter was sent after the Trump administration announced a proposal requiring companies to pay $100,000 annually for H-1B visas. The plan would also change the visa selection system to prioritize higher-skilled and better-paid workers.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin asked ten large employers to disclose:
- How many H-1B workers they employ
- The wages paid to these workers
- Whether U.S. employees have been displaced
In their letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, the senators wrote:
“With all of the homegrown American talent sidelined, it is hard to believe Amazon cannot find qualified U.S. tech workers.”
Big Tech Faces Scrutiny
The Wall Street Journal first reported the request. Big Tech companies, including Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, have all announced significant job cuts this year while continuing to expand in artificial intelligence.
Other companies receiving the letter included Deloitte, Alphabet’s Google, Walmart, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Tata Consultancy Services.
India and China Lead H-1B Approvals
India accounted for 71% of H-1B approvals last year, with China in second place at 11.7%, according to government data.
In the first half of 2025 alone:
- Amazon and AWS secured approval for over 12,000 H-1B visas.
- Microsoft and Meta each received more than 5,000 approvals.
Walmart, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Cognizant did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
