Walmart says it will pause hiring candidates who require H-1B visas to work in the U.S., according to BBC News, as a reaction to the Trump administration's $100,000 fee for issuing the visas, which was announced in September.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing the fee, citing "abuse" of the program for skilled foreign workers, and claiming it undercuts the American workforce.

Walmart tops the list of retail chains that use the program, with more than 2,000 H-1B visas approved in the first half of 2025.

Read More: Trump's $100K H-1B Visa Fee Puts U.S. Innovation Engine to the Test

The retail giant is "committed to hiring and investing in the best talent to serve our customers, while remaining thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach," a Walmart spokesperson said.

The decision by Walmart, which is America’s largest private employer, was first reported by Bloomberg News.

While Walmart is the largest beneficiary of the H-1B visas in the retail sector, the program is often associated with the giants of the U.S. tech sector. BBC reports that Amazon has the largest number of approved H1-B visas, securing more than 10,000 in the first half of 2025. Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google each secured more than 4,000 visas through the program through June, according to U.S. government data.

Startups, as well as smaller firms beyond tech, also employ workers through H-1B visas.