The Trump administration has suspended Microsoft, Adobe and six large IT firms from a key green-card program, accusing them of fraud and abuse of foreign-worker visas.

Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the move on October 8. The suspensions cover Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini.

Under the decision, the Labor Department will not accept new or process pending PERM applications from these companies. PERM certification is the first step for most employment-based green cards.

Vance accused Microsoft of laying off 6,000 American workers last year while benefiting from 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards. Microsoft did not immediately respond.

Officials said the companies had requested almost 3 million foreign workers since 2009. They framed the crackdown as protecting American jobs ahead of the midterm elections.

Nine universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Brown, will also be investigated over alleged J-1 visa fraud. Subpoenas have already been served, officials said.

The move does not cancel existing H-1B visas. But it creates major uncertainty for thousands of foreign tech workers waiting on green cards.