Bill Overview
Title: DIRECT Funds for Border Security Act
Description: This bill rescinds unobligated amounts for Internal Revenue Service enforcement activities enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and redirects such amounts to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the hiring of new agents and officers for the security of the southern border of the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-22]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or impacted by U.S. border security and tax enforcement
Estimated Size: 40000000
- The bill affects IRS activities by reducing its funds, which could impact its enforcement capabilities and, consequently, revenue collection.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will receive additional funds, which may improve border security operations, potentially affecting migration patterns and border communities.
- Individuals and businesses who may be impacted by reduced IRS enforcement include taxpayers and tax professionals.
- Communities along the southern U.S. border may experience changes due to increased presence of CBP agents.
- Immigrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border may face heightened enforcement due to increased CBP personnel.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects two major groups: those impacted by IRS enforcement activities and those impacted by border security measures. Thus, the population distribution includes individuals working in tax-related fields, border security agents, residents near the southern border, and immigrants.
- IRS enforcement activities are nationwide, affecting a wide range of taxpayers, while the border security elements mainly affect those in border states. This requires including both urban and rural populations in the simulations.
- Budget limitations suggest that while there could be clear changes in border enforcement, the IRS impact might be more dispersed, leading to localized differences in perceived wellbeing.
- The effects on wellbeing might differ significantly from year 1 to year 20. Individuals less impacted immediately may perceive different outcomes in future decades as policy effects compound or dissipate.
Simulated Interviews
Tax Consultant (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that reduced IRS enforcement might lead to more tax evasion, which could harm honest taxpayers.
- Increased funding for CBP might improve security, but I hope it doesn't come at the cost of important domestic financial oversight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Border Security Agent (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill should make my job easier and might mean more job stability.
- I'm a little concerned about how increased presence is perceived by the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less IRS oversight might initially seem like a relief, but it could lead to an uneven playing field for businesses like mine.
- I'm neutral on border security issues personally, though I understand their importance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (El Paso, Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased border security might improve safety in my community.
- I hope this doesn't lead to fewer IRS audits and more local financial crimes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
NGO Worker (San Diego, California)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry the increased funding for CBP may lead to more militarized approaches to border communities.
- IRS budget cuts could undermine critical federal revenues for social programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Engineer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see how this affects me directly yet.
- I'm curious to see the long-term effects of IRS funding changes on tech company compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased border agents might make cross-border trips more difficult but could also protect local communities.
- I'm uncertain about the long-term financial impacts of IRS funding cuts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Self-employed Photographer (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less enforcement of tax laws could mean more complex tax filings for me.
- The border policy changes don't seem to relate to me locally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Immigrant Rights Advocate (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the implications of increased CBP funding on immigrant communities.
- The IRS funding change could mean fewer resources for investigating financial crimes perpetrated against marginalized groups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Tax Accountant (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that reduced IRS enforcement will lead to more tax compliance errors and fraud.
- The border policy doesn't impact my professional life directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 5: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between effective tax collection and border security enhancement needs precise calibration to avoid substantial economic downsides.
- Potential resistance from stakeholders within the IRS due to decreased funding might lead to operational challenges.
- The geopolitical tensions and migratory trends will influence the degree of success in border enforcement.