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Trump Proposes Sending IRS Agents to Border and Overhauling Trade System in Bold Start to Second Term
Edited by: TJVNews.com
President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh wave of controversy and debate with his latest remarks on redirecting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents to the U.S.-Mexico border and his sweeping plans for trade reform. According to a report that appeared on Saturday in The New York Post, Trump floated the idea during a rally in Las Vegas, where he addressed a crowd of supporters just days after issuing an indefinite hiring freeze for the federal agency.
During the rally at Circa Resort & Casino, Trump, 78, proposed a striking solution to what he described as a failing border security system. “They hired, or tried to hire, 88,000 workers to go after you, and we’re in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them, or maybe we’ll move them to the border,” he said, as reported by The New York Post. The agents, hired under funding provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, were initially intended to enhance IRS operations. Instead, Trump suggested reassigning them to border security, emphasizing their ability to carry firearms. “You know, they’re so strong on guns,” he added.
As The New York Post report highlighted, Trump’s proposal coincides with a flurry of executive actions that marked the first days of his second term. Among these measures was a sweeping 90-day federal hiring freeze, which applies to all government agencies except for those involved in national security, public safety, and military operations. The IRS is subject to this freeze, with all hirings halted until the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) determines when hiring aligns with the national interest.
This freeze draws attention to Trump’s broader vision for reshaping government operations. The President declared a national emergency at the southern border, signaling his administration’s prioritization of border security. Additionally, The New York Post report said that Trump unveiled plans to establish an external revenue office to oversee the collection of tariffs and other foreign-sourced revenues.
Trade reform is another key pillar of Trump’s second term agenda, which he has branded the start of a “golden age” for America. In his inaugural speech earlier this week, Trump reiterated his intention to overhaul the country’s trade policies, shifting the focus away from domestic taxation and toward tariffs on foreign imports.
As reported by The New York Post, Trump outlined his strategy for imposing substantial tariffs on nations that do not align with his immigration and economic policies. Canada and Mexico, two of America’s largest trade partners, are among the initial targets of a proposed 25% tariff set to take effect on February 1. Trump also promised to levy tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all foreign goods and as much as 60% on imports from China.
“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” Trump declared, according to The New York Post. “It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our Treasury – coming from foreign sources.”
Trump’s announcement linking IRS agents to border security has sparked widespread debate. Critics argue that the IRS agents’ skillsets are misaligned with the demands of border patrol duties, while supporters see the proposal as a creative solution to bolster national security. Meanwhile, Trump’s tariff-heavy trade reform plan has drawn praise from his base for prioritizing American workers but raised concerns among economists about potential price increases and trade retaliation.
The New York Post also reported on how Trump’s proposed policies are part of a larger narrative aimed at revitalizing the American economy and strengthening the country’s borders. By linking taxation, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, Trump aims to deliver on his promise of returning the “American Dream” to its former glory.
As Trump navigates his second term, his policies signal an aggressive approach to reshaping both domestic governance and international trade. The New York Post has detailed the President’s ambitious vision, which hinges on leveraging foreign revenues to minimize the tax burden on American citizens. While these plans resonate strongly with Trump’s supporters, their implementation will likely face legal, logistical, and political hurdles.