Big U.S. companies are under mounting scrutiny from Capitol Hill for their reliance on foreign employees hired through the H-1B visa program. Lawmakers have raised concerns that this practice could be worsening layoffs and weakening job prospects for American workers, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
On Wednesday evening, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) sent letters to some of the nation’s largest H-1B users—including Amazon, Apple, and JPMorgan Chase. The senators asked the companies to provide detailed data by October 10, covering how many H-1B workers they currently employ, the wages they are paid, and whether U.S. workers have been displaced in the process.
The senators cited recent WSJ reporting about the sluggish U.S. tech job market, which has seen major layoffs despite continued hiring of H-1B employees. Grassley and Durbin questioned why companies “continue to employ thousands of H-1B visa holders while laying off American workers,” demanding greater transparency on hiring practices.
The letters highlight bipartisan concern in Washington over the H-1B program and its impact on domestic employment. While the program is designed to bring in highly skilled workers for specialized roles, critics argue it is increasingly being used as a cost-saving tool, potentially at the expense of American workers.
With U.S. unemployment in the tech sector remaining elevated and immigration policy a focal point ahead of the 2026 elections, the pressure on big firms to justify their hiring strategies is expected to intensify.
