Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Vance Accuses Companies of Undercutting US Workers
JD Vance says some companies pay foreign workers less than American workers doing similar jobs.
He says this can make it easier for companies to replace American employees.
Vance pointed to Microsoft as an example.
The article says Microsoft laid off 6,000 US employees in 2025 and received approval for more than 6,000 H-1B visas.
It also says some green-card applications were for jobs previously held by laid-off workers.
The Labor Department suspended Microsoft and several other companies from a programme used to begin sponsoring workers for permanent residency.
The department’s inspector general said subpoenas were sent to nine universities.
The article does not include responses from the companies or universities.
JD Vance said H-1B workers earn $20,000 less on average than US citizens in similar jobs, citing figures he presented.
He said workers hired through foreign outsourcing firms earn $48,000 less on average than comparable US employees.
Vance accused corporations of using wage differences to replace American workers and increase profits.
The article says Microsoft laid off 6,000 US employees in 2025 while receiving approval for more than 6,000 H-1B visas.
The Labor Department suspended Microsoft and several other companies from the PERM green-card sponsorship programme; its inspector general also said subpoenas went to nine universities.
- Who
- Vice President JD Vance, the US Department of Labor, technology and consulting companies, and nine universities.
- What
- Vance criticized the use of H-1B workers and alleged that companies used wage differences to replace US employees. The Labor Department suspended several companies from the PERM programme.
- When
- The article refers to company actions during 2025; it does not specify when the remarks or suspensions occurred.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- Vance said companies were using lower wages for foreign workers to reduce costs and replace American workers; the department’s suspensions followed reviews of labor-certification activity.
- Pay gap cited by Vance
- $20,000 less on average for H-1B workers in comparable positions, according to figures he cited.
- Outsourcing-firm pay gap cited
- $48,000 less on average than comparable US employees, according to Vance.
- Microsoft layoffs
- The article says Microsoft laid off 6,000 American employees in 2025.
- Microsoft H-1B approvals
- More than 6,000 approvals during the period described.
- Microsoft PERM applications
- The company filed 3,682 applications for permanent labor certification.
- Applications reportedly matching former roles
- Federal reviews indicated nearly 1,000 applications matched positions previously held by laid-off US employees.
- Universities subpoenaed
- The Labor Department inspector general said subpoenas were served to nine universities.