Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has taken aim at Big Tech's apparent contradiction: warning that AI will wipe out white-collar jobs while simultaneously pushing for H-1B visas to bring in cheaper foreign workers.
On Monday, DeSantis posted on X, calling out tech companies for forecasting the end of office jobs due to AI automation while still advocating for the H-1B visa program, which allows them to hire lower-cost foreign labor. He wrote, "Not hard to see why people view Big Tech unfavorably."
The comment came in response to a user sharing an article about Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) automating white-collar roles. The company's AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, told the Financial Times in February that AI could handle most computer-based professional tasks—like accounting, legal work, marketing, and project management—within 18 months. He warned that many office jobs could face rapid disruption as AI capabilities advance.
DeSantis isn't the only Republican taking aim at the tech industry's labor practices. In July, Vice President JD Vance criticized Big Tech for laying off American workers while leaning heavily on immigrant labor through the H-1B program. He questioned the fairness and economic logic behind those decisions, referencing mass layoffs at Microsoft and arguing that companies should prioritize hiring the "best and brightest" in the U.S.
DeSantis has also pushed higher education reforms in Florida, cutting DEI funding and limiting H-1B visa usage at state public universities. He said his administration has blocked federal grants tied to "woke priorities" and directed officials to crack down on what he called the "H-1B scam."
The numbers back up the political rhetoric. Federal data from April shows that H-1B visa applications at major tech companies have fallen sharply. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) saw its applications drop from 4,647 to 3,057. Filings at Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Meta Platforms Inc. (META) roughly halved. The decline comes as layoffs rose and stricter U.S. immigration rules increased costs and scrutiny.
So the tension is clear: tech companies are simultaneously investing in AI to replace workers and lobbying for visas to bring in cheaper foreign talent. DeSantis and other critics see that as a raw deal for American workers—and they're not shy about saying so.
