At the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump presented Satya Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, joining a group of six tech leaders who received the award.
Just hours earlier, Vice President J. D. Vance held a news conference to suspend Microsoft from the federal green‑card program, citing alleged abuse of the H‑1B visa system.
Vance cited that Microsoft fired 6,000 U.S. employees last year while securing 6,300 H‑1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards, a disparity that sparked the crackdown.
Microsoft’s spokesperson said the majority of its 2023 H‑1B filings were extensions or status changes for existing staff, not new hires.
Nadella posted a brief thank‑you on social media, calling the moment humbling, while Vance said the administration would continue to support the company’s relationship with the U.S. government.
The administration has announced an investigation into the visa claims and may tighten the green‑card program’s eligibility criteria, with policy reviews slated for the next congressional session.