JD Vance torches Microsoft for axing US jobs while doubling down on H-1B visas
m.economictimes.com
JD Vance has sharply criticized Microsoft and other big tech companies for laying off thousands of American workers while increasing reliance on H-1B visa holders. Speaking at a bipartisan Hill and Valley Forum, Vance questioned the ethics behind firing 9,000 U.S. workers and then applying for overseas work visas. He specifically called out Microsoft after it laid off over 15,000 employees in 2025. Despite cost-cutting, Microsoft expanded its AI team by hiring staff from Google DeepMind, raising questions about its priorities. CEO Satya Nadella defended the layoffs in a company memo, citing difficult decisions. As layoffs continue, Microsoft’s stock surged past $500 in July. This ongoing story reflects growing tensions around immigration, employment, and AI growth in the U.S. tech sector.

Help me understand the administration angle here. I mean, obviously, it disenfranchises American workers and corps have been abusing it for 30nyears now, no news there. Is it to pressure concessions elsewhere from tech companies as the corporate-technofascist state solidifies?

Here’s an article from 2022 about how when working in VC he of course invested in companies that proscribe to the visa abuse practices he’s railing against: https://www.axios.com/2022/04/22/jd-vances-investments-made-use-of-h-1b-visas-he-opposes

Is the snake eating its tail here? Is the left hand slapping the right hand? TF.

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    As I said, their actions fly in the face of this sentiment, so I’m not sure what he’s playing at here.

    My thought was to say to other tech workers that this might sound like a bone being thrown to us but it is both disingenuous, and but a fart in the face of a raging tempest. Maybe that didn’t come through as clearly as I’d have liked.

    • LilB0kChoy@piefed.socialEnglish
      31·
      1 day ago

      My misunderstanding. I read the first sentence of your original comment as “this is good for me” and then the rest as “It’s counter to their recent actions and I want to get off the rollercoaster”.

      Sounds like we’re on the same page though