Trump says 88,000 newly hired, armed IRS agents could be reassigned to US-Mexico border

President Trump has proposed reallocating the nearly 88,000 newly hired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees to assist with border security at the US-Mexico border.

Speaking at an event in Las Vegas on Saturday, Trump highlighted his potential tax policies for his second administration. There, he suggested that the new IRS employees could be “moved to the border.”

“They hired - were trying to hire 88,000 new workers to go with you, and we're in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we move them to the border,” Trump said. “I think we're going to move them to the border where they are allowed to carry guns. You know, they're so strong on guns. But these people are allowed to carry guns. So we will probably move them to the border.”

Upon taking office, Trump signed an executive order to halt the hiring of federal civilian employees until his administration could determine its necessity. While the freeze temporarily applied to most agencies, the IRS faced an indefinite hiring halt. Trump also paused the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, leaving the future of the newly hired IRS workforce uncertain, according to the Daily Mail.

The president has also stated his intention to implement an External Revenue Service to “collect tariffs, duties, and other foreign trade-related revenues.” This comes as Trump has proposed a 25 percent tariff on neighboring countries, including Canada and Mexico, partly citing their lack of cooperation in securing the US border.

“I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families, Trump said when he took office last Monday. “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our Treasury – coming from foreign sources. The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before.”