Investigation Launched: Bipartisan Lawmakers Question Tech Giants

The bipartisan leaders of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee — Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and Democratic Ranking Member Dick Durbin (Illinois) — have sent letters to 10 major U.S. companies, including Amazon, Apple, and Meta, requesting detailed information related to their recruitment and employment practices for H-1B visa holders.

In a press release announcing the investigation, the two senators noted that over the past few years, these companies have "heavily relied on H-1B visa applications" to fill technology-related positions, showing a preference for foreign workers over American workers. The letters state: "We are concerned about some troubling hiring trends in the tech industry."

In addition to the three companies mentioned above, the list of companies under investigation includes Google, Microsoft, Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Tata Consultancy Services.

Investigation Background: Tech Industry Unemployment and Executive Order

This Senate investigation comes amid a growing domestic debate over the impact of H-1B visa hiring on American workers, especially in the technology sector. The press release notes that the unemployment rate in the U.S. tech industry is "significantly higher" than the overall unemployment rate.

On September 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, citing "systemic abuse" in the program. The order states: "The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was designed to bring in temporary workers to perform supplemental, high-skill functions, but the program has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with low-wage, low-skill foreign labor."

According to an article published by the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, the executive order took effect quickly at midnight on September 21, bringing "sudden and dramatic changes" for employers and causing confusion. The article states: "Many details remain unclear, and litigation is expected."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called on the administration to withdraw the new fee, saying it could "hinder economic growth," as previously reported by CFO Dive.

Specific Case: Amazon's H-1B Hiring and Layoffs

In the letter to Amazon, Grassley and Durbin noted that in fiscal year 2025, Amazon applied for and was approved to hire at least 10,044 H-1B employees, the highest number among all U.S. companies. The letter also mentioned that Amazon has laid off tens of thousands of workers in recent years.

The two senators wrote: "Given the large number of qualified American talents being marginalized, we find it difficult to believe that Amazon cannot find qualified American tech workers to fill these positions." Similar concerns were raised in other letters.

In the letters, Amazon and other companies were asked to "explain in detail" whether they made good-faith efforts to fill open positions with American workers before submitting H-1B applications, and whether they have replaced any U.S. employees with H-1B holders.

Responses and Next Steps

As of press time, spokespeople for Microsoft and Cognizant declined to comment. Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, and Tata Consultancy Services have not immediately responded to requests for comment.