Anthony D'Esposito, inspector general of the Department of Labor, posted a clip of Microsoft’s executive vice‑president for Cloud and AI, Scott Guthrie, on April 25, 2024, during an internal Q&A where Guthrie outlined the firm’s stance on green‑card sponsorship after the administration halted its program last month.
Microsoft rebutted the accusation, noting that out of roughly 6,000 H‑1B petitions filed last fiscal year, 80% were for extensions or status changes of existing employees, while only 1% represented new hires of foreign nationals already residing in the U.S. The company also highlighted that its H‑1B employees receive wages on par with comparable U.S. staff.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice‑chair, warned that the Trump administration’s move could drive top talent to rival tech hubs abroad, adding that Vice President J.D. Vance lacks accurate data on Microsoft’s sponsorships. “We must not send a signal that encourages the best engineers to leave the country,” Smith said.
In response, D'Esposito reaffirmed the department’s stance, urging Microsoft not to use visa programs as a “back door” into the nation. He also warned that the Department would pursue further action if the company fails to comply with the requested documentation. Meanwhile, an Indian engineer at Microsoft, who had been waiting 18 months for green‑card approval, said the delay forced her to keep her family in India, underscoring the human cost of the dispute.