Washington: The White House has alleged that major American tech companies laid off more than 40,000 US tech workers while simultaneously hiring foreign employees on H-1B visas, raising concerns over misuse of the skilled-worker programme. The claims were detailed in a fact sheet highlighting how several firms slashed domestic jobs even as they secured thousands of H-1B approvals, reported Hindustan Times.
According to the document, one leading company cut nearly 16,000 US jobs even as it secured approval for 5,189 H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2025. Another firm reduced its workforce by about 2,400 in Oregon while winning 1,698 H-1B approvals. A third company is said to have eliminated around 27,000 positions since 2022 even as it received 25,075 H-1B approvals during the same period. Yet another reportedly laid off nearly 1,000 employees in February this year, despite having 1,137 visa approvals.
In some cases, the White House said, American employees were even required under nondisclosure agreements to train their foreign replacements. Officials warned that such practices are not only displacing local talent but also discouraging young Americans from entering STEM fields. They also flagged potential national security risks tied to the manner in which the visa programme is being used.
In response, President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping overhaul of the programme, including a new USD 100,000 fee for fresh H-1B visa petitions. The White House clarified that the steep fee will apply only to new filings submitted after September 21, 2025, while current visa holders, renewals, and petitions already in process will remain unaffected.
The administration’s move comes amid growing debate over whether the H-1B programme, designed to fill skill gaps, is instead being used by companies to undercut American jobs.
