Annual Ad-Free Subscription… Join the Fight and Support Revolver Now…

Check out the new merch! — Donate…

Sign up for our email list… stay on the bleeding edge… 

Guest Post by William Robertson

Construction, agriculture, and food service were once the bedrock of our nation’s workforce. Today, these industries have been overtaken by a shadow labor force of undocumented workers who undercut wages. It is not that Americans refuse to do the work. Rather, they are pushed aside by a system that allows rampant fraud, fosters exploitative employment practices, and leaves honest citizens shouldering the burden. For too many Americans, especially those starting out or working in blue-collar jobs, the American Dream has been slipping out of reach.

A key culprit is the widespread misuse of fraudulent Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs), which are intended to ensure that people working in the United States report income and pay taxes correctly. For years, previous administrations looked the other way as special interests benefited from this blatant fraud. The result has been stagnant wages and a workplace culture where the rule-following employee is at a disadvantage.

Consider the construction industry, which was once a source of national pride. Skilled trades were passed from generation to generation. Now, these same industries frequently rely on a workforce that uses fake or stolen TINs or Social Security numbers, making it easy for unscrupulous employers to dodge taxes and skirt labor regulations. Meanwhile, Americans who want these jobs face language barriers, intimidation, and lowered wages. It is no wonder that our youth are discouraged from pursuing the trades when they see so few opportunities that offer a fair wage and basic protections.

This is more than a labor issue. It has become a national challenge, fueling systemic problems such as substance abuse, declining birth rates, and diminished readiness for emergencies. We should be encouraging our young people to join the trades with pride, but the incentives simply are not there when the playing field is so uneven.

Fortunately, President Trump can repair this broken system with a single, powerful solution: an executive order aimed squarely at strengthening enforcement against fraudulent TIN use. By intensifying verification requirements and ensuring that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Homeland Security share information about fake numbers, we can remove the monetary incentive behind illegal hiring. Employers who knowingly submit false information or fail to verify TINs would face genuine penalties instead of minor fines or slaps on the wrist.

A universal requirement that all employers must use systems like E-Verify or TIN matching would likely require an act of Congress because the executive branch alone cannot impose a new legal mandate on employers without a statutory basis. However, the executive branch does have considerable discretion in how it enforces existing laws, and it can use that discretion to strongly encourage compliance. Current statutes already penalize the submission of repeatedly mismatched TINs, so the president is well within his authority to turn the screws on scofflaw employers.

It can ramp up enforcement of existing tax and employment regulations, which indirectly nudges businesses to adopt name-TIN matching or similar verification programs to avoid repeated mismatches and the penalties that may follow.

The provisions of this executive order would:

1. Encourage Real-Time TIN Verification

Employers already have three government databases at their disposal to verify TINs for new hires: 1) E-Verify from DHS; 2) the IRS TIN matching system; and 3) the Social Security Number Verification Service.  Congress should mandate that employers use these systems, but it is entirely within the bounds of the Executive to strongly encourage their use. If the TIN does not match, they cannot simply ignore the discrepancy, as the IRS will promptly identify the error and stay on their case.

2. Disallow Deductions for Unverified Workers

Under tax law, companies are allowed to deduct legitimate business expenses. These do not include, for example, bribes to government officials. Nor should they include wages paid to workers whom they know or should know are unauthorized. Close this loophole, and disallow deductions where the TIN doesn’t match the name on the W2 or 1099. If an honest mistake, this is easily remedied. If not, prepare to pay a lot more in taxes. Removing this deduction eliminates the financial incentive to rely on cheap, undocumented labor.

3. Increase Penalties for Repeat Offenders

If an employer fails to correct a filing after they have been notified of the error, or repeatedly submits mismatched TINs, they will risk severe fines and even criminal prosecution. This provision is critical for enforcing the law and deterring dishonest behavior.

4. Promote Interagency Cooperation

The IRS, Social Security Administration, and Department of Homeland Security would share data to detect fraud and refer it for enforcement action. Employers who engage in large-scale fraud, as well as individuals who commit identity theft, would face legal consequences.

No civilized nation should allow its laws to be trampled upon so brazenly. By focusing on TIN misuse, we are simply enforcing regulations that are already on the books. These rules are designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, follows the same standards.

The impact on American workers would be enormous. Younger employees would gain new opportunities in construction, food service, agriculture, and other trades. Blue-collar laborers would finally see their wages rise when unethical employers can no longer undercut them with illegal hires. Honest businesses, the ones that comply with our tax and employment laws, would no longer be punished for doing the right thing.

Rebuilding our trades begins with something as straightforward as verifying TINs and enforcing existing laws. It is a simple, decisive measure that can help restore fairness in the workforce and return dignity to the men and women who do the tough jobs that keep our country running.

Our nation was built on the backs of those who labored with pride and skill. By rooting out fraud and upholding the law, President Trump can revive the trades that once allowed a single income to support a family and a secure future. With the stroke of a pen, an executive order on TIN enforcement can help make the trades great again. Let us not miss this opportunity to protect American workers, support honest employers, and uphold the integrity of our tax and immigration systems. It is time for the Trump administration to take that one crucial step toward a fairer, stronger America.

Annual Ad-Free Subscription… Join the Fight and Support Revolver Now…

Check out the new merch! — Donate…

Sign up for our email list… stay on the bleeding edge… 

NEWSFEED — FOLLOW ON X — GAB — GETTR — TRUTH SOCIAL — BLUESKY