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Trump’s DOJ gains oversight of OpenAI’s green-card employee sponsorships
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division announced a settlement with OpenAI and Statsig, implementing three years of oversight on their hiring practices after allegations of discrimination against U.S. citizens in green-card sponsorships. The companies agreed to pay $3.2 million without admitting wrongdoing, with the majority designated for restitution to affected citizens. This follows a broader crackdown on hiring practices under the INA.
Key points
- The DOJ alleged OpenAI and Statsig prevented U.S. citizens from applying for jobs held by immigrant employees by not adequately recruiting U.S. citizens for PERM roles.
- The settlement includes $3.2 million payment: $1.2 million as a fine and $2 million for possible restitution to harmed U.S. citizens.
- DOJ oversight mandates semi-annual reports and approval for PERM-role hiring policies as part of the settlement.
- Current investigations began in August 2025, prior to OpenAI's acquisition of Statsig in September 2025.
- Previous administrations have enforced similar provisions of the INA, targeting tech giants like Facebook and Apple.
Why it matters
- The enforcement of the INA has historical precedence, affecting various tech companies under different administrations.
- Heightened scrutiny on hiring practices aligns with broader trends in corporate responsibility and anti-discrimination in tech sectors.
- As of 2025, the tech industry is dealing with increased regulations and oversight in areas including employment equity and immigration compliance.
The settlement signals the DOJ's commitment to enforcing hiring regulations under the INA, emphasizing accountability among tech companies and their hiring practices, while also reflecting ongoing trends of corporate scrutiny and compliance.