WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Y Combinator General Partner Ankit Gupta faces growing scrutiny after comments about hiring American workers drew criticism from senior U.S. officials and conservative commentators.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon joined the debate after Gupta described efforts to “prop up” Americans as a preferred hiring group as “DEI.” Dhillon shared a screenshot of Gupta’s post on X and challenged his view of hiring policies.
Dhillon said federal and most state employment laws require employers to provide a level playing field for American and foreign workers. However, she also accused some U.S. companies of using visa programs to gain access to cheaper foreign labor.
According to Dhillon, some employers may misuse programs such as H-1B visas, J-1 visas, PERM recruitment, and Optional Practical Training. She alleged that some companies avoid normal hiring channels and use staffing firms to recruit foreign workers.
Dhillon also claimed that some employers rely on foreign-born hiring managers to recruit workers while sidelining American employees. She said some companies have mistreated U.S. workers after layoffs or during hiring decisions.
“These are not good business practices; they are not patriotic economic practices; and they are illegal labor practices,” Dhillon wrote on X.
The assistant attorney general said the Trump administration would not allow employers to discriminate against U.S. workers. She also said the Department of Justice is working with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor on the issue.
However, Dhillon later clarified that her comments did not target Gupta or Y Combinator alone. She said the broader problem affects American businesses and academic institutions.
“This is not aimed at @ycombinator or one guy popping off,” Dhillon wrote. “This problem permeates American industry & academia, and it’s a bipartisan scandal.”
Dhillon also pointed to major technology companies. She said her experience as a Silicon Valley technology lawyer has exposed her to hiring practices that she considers problematic.
Anthony D’Esposito, the Justice Department’s inspector general, also criticized Gupta’s comments. He argued that hiring Americans first in the United States should not count as DEI.
“Ankit Gupta thinks hiring Americans first—in America—is ‘DEI,’” D’Esposito wrote on X. “No, Ankit. It’s called putting your own citizens first.”
D’Esposito said American companies should prioritize U.S. jobs and workers. He also argued that criticism of such a position reflects a broader disagreement over the role of immigration in the U.S. labor market.
Conservative commentator Jenn Pellegrino also criticized Gupta. She argued that the U.S. economy should mainly serve Americans who live and work in the country.
Supporters of skilled immigration often argue that visa programs help U.S. companies find workers for specialized roles. Critics, however, say some employers can use those programs to reduce labor costs or avoid hiring American workers.
