Walmart Lays Off Employees in Three States: What To Know

Walmart is laying off employees in California, Florida and Texas—some as part of a corporate restructuring plan, others in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers.

Newsweek reached out to Walmart via contact form on its website on Friday for comment.

Why It Matters

Walmart’s layoffs highlight different pressures facing America’s largest private employer.

The Silicon Valley layoffs reflect the retailer’s push to adapt to a rapidly changing tech landscape, while the layoffs relating to migrant workers reflect the far-reaching impact of the government’s immigration policy.

What To Know

Walmart is laying off up to 106 staffers in its technology office in San Bruno, California, according to an internal memo shared with Newsweek by a Walmart spokesperson.

Roles affected include engineers and data scientists, as well as managers in various departments such as finance, marketing and operations, SFGate reported.

The memo, titled “Building for the future,” said: “We are eliminating roles as well as opening some new roles aligned with our business priorities and growth strategy.

“The world of technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and reshaping our structure allows us to accelerate how we deliver and adapt to the changing environment around us.”

Those affected will have the opportunity to relocate to other departments at Walmart, but if they don’t, their jobs will be terminated by August 22, according to a May 23 WARN document filed with California officials.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the retailer may cut up to 1,500 corporate employees across the country as part of its restructuring plans.

Walmart previously warned that Trump’s sweeping global tariffs could lead to higher consumer prices. However, a Walmart spokesperson told the outlet that the layoffs were part of the company’s business strategy, not related to the tariffs.

Walmart is also terminating some of its employees in Florida and Texas, Bloomberg reported, after a Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to end temporary protections for certain migrant groups.

The ruling permits the government to revoke the legal status that had allowed migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to live and work in the U.S.

Walmart is asking stories nationwide to begin identifying other workers whose work authorization may soon be expiring, Bloomberg reported.

What People Are Saying

A Walmart spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that its corporate layoffs “reflect a focus on business priorities and our growth strategy, and are not related to tariffs.”

President Donald Trump on Truth Social in May: “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, “EAT THE TARIFFS,” and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”

What Happens Next

Walmart is expected to move forward with its planned layoffs of corporate roles as part of its broader restructuring strategy, likely aiming to reach the 1,500-job figure previously reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The impact of the immigration ruling will likely continue to affect migrant workers who are unable to reverify their legal work status, not just at Walmart, but also at other major employers across the country.