During the election campaign, voiced support for the H-1B program, although that was well before the current economic crisis took hold. Obama has yet to announce any detailed H-1B plans, but his Cabinet nominees include supporters of a cap increase, such as Janet Napolitano, now secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt, who was part of Obama's transition team, also has been .

Microsoft didn't respond this afternoon to a request for comment about the letter sent by Grassley, who last fall released an internal report by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency documenting in the H-1B program.