Microsoft cuts 6,000 jobs while securing 6,300 H-1B visas

US Vice President JD Vance claimed that no American company had abused the H-1B visa program more than Microsoft, citing the layoff of 6,000 American workers alongside the receipt of some 6,300 H-1B visas. The figure comes from a political statement, not an official audit.

## Vance's accusations against Microsoft

In remarks reported by various media outlets, Vice President **JD Vance** claimed that no American company had abused the **H-1B** visa program more than **Microsoft**. As evidence, he noted that the company laid off **6,000 American workers** while receiving around **6,300 H-1B visas** over the same period.

The H-1B is a temporary work permit the United States grants to qualified foreign professionals, typically in sectors such as technology. Tech companies have used it for decades to fill specialized roles, and its annual volume is capped by law.

## What the H-1B program is and why it sparks controversy

The program has an overall cap of **65,000 visas** per year, plus an additional **20,000** for holders of a master's degree or doctorate from US universities. Applications usually far exceed the available slots, and allocation is decided by lottery.

The usual criticism is that it allows companies to hire foreign talent while cutting local jobs. The usual defense is that it fills vacancies that cannot be staffed with domestic workers. Both positions have coexisted in the American political debate for years.

## The political use of the numbers

The figure of **6,000 layoffs** versus **6,300 visas** works as a contrast argument: fewer own employees, more permits for foreigners. It is a figure circulating as attributed to a public statement, not to an independent report.

The two things should be kept separate. Layoffs and visas may correspond to different periods, divisions or job categories within the same company. Without an official breakdown, the direct comparison between the two figures is a political reading, not an accounting equivalence.

## A debate that goes beyond one company

The accusation against **Microsoft** fits into a broader discussion about skilled immigration in the United States. The H-1B program affects **Amazon**, **Google**, **Meta** and much of the tech sector, not just one company.

The controversy mixes three distinct issues: immigration policy, workforce management and competition for talent. Reducing them to a single figure oversimplifies a debate with legal, economic and labor dimensions. Any conclusion about specific cases should rest on each company's official data.