In a bold new proposal, former President Donald Trump suggested deploying nearly 90,000 newly hired IRS agents to help with border security. Speaking at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Trump criticized the IRS expansion, which was funded with a massive $72 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act. Instead of letting these agents focus solely on tax enforcement, Trump thinks they could do more by strengthening security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
He told his supporters, “They hired, or tried to hire, 88,000 workers to go after you. We’re working on a plan to either fire them or move them to the border.” Trump joked about the agents’ ability to carry guns, saying, “You know, they’re so strong on guns. But these people are allowed to carry guns, so we’ll probably move them to the border.”
This idea comes after Trump signed an executive order freezing most federal hiring for 90 days, except for those in national security, public safety, and military jobs. During this freeze, the IRS will not be allowed to add more agents while the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reviews staffing needs.
Beyond these moves, Trump recently declared a national emergency at the southern border, focusing his administration’s attention on improving border security by redistributing resources and even repurposing government employees for the task.
In his speech, Trump also outlined sweeping economic reforms, including plans to impose tariffs on countries that don’t align with U.S. immigration policies. Starting February 1, countries like Mexico and Canada could face a hefty 25% tariff if they fail to cooperate. He also proposed a 10% to 20% tariff on all foreign imports and even a 60% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump’s goal? To bring more money into the U.S. Treasury while reducing the tax burden on American citizens.
“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we’ll tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” Trump said, predicting that these tariffs would pour “massive amounts” of revenue into the country. He painted a picture of the American Dream making a powerful comeback, saying it would “thrive like never before.”
Trump’s proposal to reassign IRS agents to the border has sparked strong reactions. His supporters see it as a bold way to combat illegal immigration and boost national security. However, critics worry it could harm the IRS’s ability to carry out its primary mission of tax enforcement and create logistical problems. Conservative groups like the Independent Women’s Forum have praised the proposal as a necessary step to protect American resources, while the ACLU has slammed it as an overreach of executive power.
As the Trump administration pushes forward with its border and economic plans, this bold IRS move is likely to face significant legal and logistical challenges. More details are expected in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure—the debate over how to secure the border and revitalize the economy is far from over.
