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DOL Inspector General suspends Cognizant and Cloudera from PERM
On September 8, 2026, the DOL Office of Inspector General announced PERM suspensions for two technology companies under criminal investigation. Its September 18, 2026 press release identified them as Cognizant and Cloudera.
Confirmed
- The two companies cannot obtain new PERM labor certifications while the investigation is pending.
- The suspension relies on 20 CFR § 656.31(b), which lets DOL suspend processing of an employer's PERM applications until an investigation ends. The rule allows an initial suspension of up to 180 days, which DOL can extend.
- Cognizant was suspended again in the October 8, 2026 action.
Still unclear
- When the investigation will end.
- Whether PERM certifications approved before the suspension are affected.
- Whether the suspension also covers the two companies' H-1B filings. Some summaries say it does; Mayer Brown's analysis describes it as covering PERM only.