(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. senators have opened a fresh front in the long-running fight over H-1B visas, pressing Apple, Amazon, and other corporate heavyweights to explain why they kept hiring foreign tech workers while announcing large job cuts in 2025. Senators Chuck Grassley (R) and Dick Durbin (D) sent formal letters to at least ten major employers asking for details on their use of the visa program at a time when layoffs have hit many U.S. workers. The move adds political weight to growing public pressure on Big Tech and comes amid a controversial $100,000 fee placed on new H-1B applications filed from abroad during the Biden–Trump era.
What senators are asking for
The letters request data on four core questions:
- How many H-1B workers are on staff.
- What wages those H-1B workers receive.
- Whether any U.S. employees were displaced.
- Why firms chose to hire abroad for roles that might have been filled domestically.
In a pointed note to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, the senators wrote, “With all of the homegrown American talent relegated to the sidelines, we find it hard to believe that Amazon cannot find qualified American tech workers to fill these positions.” Similar letters went to Apple, Google/Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Walmart, Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services, and Deloitte.
Context: hiring, layoffs, and approvals
The inquiry lands during a volatile period for tech labor. Several targeted firms cut thousands of roles this year while also receiving many new H-1B approvals.
- In the first half of 2025, Amazon and AWS reportedly secured approval for over 12,000 petitions.
- Microsoft and Meta each surpassed 5,000 approvals.
- Apple and Google were not far behind.
- Tata Consultancy Services, Deloitte, Cognizant, and Walmart also ranked among the top recipients.
Those figures, together with ongoing job cuts, have drawn sharp questions from both sides of the aisle in Congress.
The $100,000 surcharge: effects and reactions
At the center of the policy fight sits the $100,000 surcharge on new H-1B applications filed from outside the United States 🇺🇸.
- Industry groups call the fee unprecedented and say it will hit hiring plans, especially for smaller employers that rely on specialized skills.
- Several companies and trade associations warn the policy could push more work offshore or shift demand to other visa categories.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests some firms may consider intracompany transfers or expanding overseas hubs if face-to-face work in the U.S. becomes too costly under this new price tag.
The White House has not backed away from changes tied to H-1B visas made across both administrations. Officials have discussed steering the program toward higher-paid roles, while business groups argue that approach risks hurting smaller firms and startups. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is reportedly weighing a legal challenge to the surcharge; if brought, the dispute could move from agency rulemaking to the courts.
Policy questions at stake
The central policy question for Congress: does the program, as used by the largest employers, still meet its original purpose—to fill specialty roles when suitable U.S. workers are not available?
Key program rules and criticisms:
- The H-1B system requires employers to pay the prevailing wage for the job and to attest that hiring will not adversely affect working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
- Critics say loopholes and weak enforcement allow wage undercutting or displacement.
- Supporters say the program is vital to bring in highly skilled professionals who help drive innovation and expand teams.
Senators Grassley and Durbin are longtime critics of H-1B misuse. Their letters explicitly ask whether companies laid off U.S. workers in the same departments where H-1B hires were made, and if so, why. They also seek wage data to test claims that H-1B workers are paid fairly.
Distribution and industry concentration
The numbers show concentration by nationality and industry:
- Indian nationals accounted for about 71% of H-1B approvals last year.
- Chinese nationals accounted for 11.7% of approvals.
- The overwhelming share of approvals went to tech and consulting firms, shaping public perception of the program.
Layoffs in software, cloud services, and e-commerce this year have intensified scrutiny about whether H-1B hiring is justified when on-the-ground teams are shrinking.
Effects on employers and potential legislative responses
For employers, the letters pose immediate reporting questions and potential long-term risks.
Near-term expectations:
- Companies may need to respond with detailed spreadsheets showing:
- Number of H-1B workers employed
- Wage levels for those workers
- Whether layoffs overlapped with new visa hiring
Longer-term possibilities include revived legislative efforts to:
- Raise wage floors
- Limit third-party placements
- Add new checks on repeat users of the program
Any of these changes would force companies to rethink global recruiting and workforce models.
Perspectives: worker groups vs. tech firms
Worker groups and unions view the inquiry as an opportunity:
- They argue repeated use of H-1B visas during or after layoffs pressures wages and slows rehiring of U.S. staff.
- They want increased audits and clear, public reporting of visa use by large employers.
Tech firms counter that:
- Narrow specialties (e.g., a specific machine learning architecture or advanced chip design) often require global searches.
- Hiring one expert can lead to larger U.S.-based teams.
This debate—harm versus growth—sits at the heart of the current standoff.
Legal and economic stakes
If Congress tightens rules or courts uphold the $100,000 fee, bringing in new talent from overseas will become more expensive.
Potential impacts:
- Well-funded firms may absorb costs or redirect hires overseas.
- Mid-sized companies and startups could pull back on recruitment.
- Consequences could ripple to university towns, tech hubs, and communities that feed graduates into tech roles.
Practical implications for foreign workers and students
Practical questions matter for foreign workers and students hoping to work in the U.S.
- Many candidates already in the country—such as graduates on Optional Practical Training—won’t face the new surcharge.
- Candidates outside the U.S. could see companies delay or cancel offers tied to H-1B sponsorship.
- Recruiters expect more employers to prefer candidates already in the country to avoid triggering the $100,000 cost.
Immigration lawyers advise employers and workers to track official updates closely. Agencies may issue further guidance, and any court challenge could change timelines.
For official program rules, readers can review U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guidance: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations.
Political balancing act and next steps
Lawmakers want to show they are defending U.S. jobs during a period of visible job cuts, without closing the door on high-skill immigration that many economists say supports growth. That balance has eluded Congress for years.
Positions in play:
- Some members favor stricter wage rules and tighter caps.
- Others support expanding high-skill visas while pairing them with stronger enforcement.
The letters to Amazon, Apple, and other major employers may lead to a broader bill or serve as leverage to push voluntary transparency commitments.
Company responses will shape the political climate:
- Detailed wage and hiring data showing H-1B workers are paid at or above market and are not replacing U.S. staff could ease pressure.
- Thin responses or media reports showing layoffs paired with new visa hiring will intensify scrutiny.
The combination of H-1B visas, 2025 job cuts, and new fees has turned a policy fight into a mainstream political issue that crosses party lines in Congress.
Where things stand now
- The inquiry is ongoing. Senators’ offices have not released firm deadlines, but staff expect answers in the coming weeks.
- Advocates for U.S. workers, international graduates, and skilled professionals will watch responses closely.
- With Congress engaged, a high-cost fee in effect, and business groups eyeing the courts, the next phase of the debate will play out on multiple fronts—on Capitol Hill, inside corporate legal departments, and for thousands of workers whose plans depend on how this policy fight is resolved.
This Article in a Nutshell
Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin have requested detailed H-1B hiring data from at least ten major employers — including Amazon, Apple, Google/Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Walmart, Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services, and Deloitte — as those firms announced significant job cuts in 2025. The letters seek counts of H-1B workers, wage information, evidence of any displacement of U.S. employees, and explanations for hiring abroad. The inquiry coincides with high levels of H-1B approvals in the first half of 2025 (Amazon/AWS over 12,000; Microsoft and Meta over 5,000 each) and a controversial $100,000 surcharge on new H-1B filings from abroad. Industry groups warn the fee could push work offshore and harm smaller employers, while advocates push for stronger enforcement of prevailing wage and anti-displacement rules. Company responses may influence potential legislative reforms—such as higher wage floors, limits on third-party placements, and increased audits—and will shape the political debate on balancing high-skill immigration with protections for U.S. workers.
