Economic Security and National Security Interconnected, According to CBP Official

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott emphasized the significance of economic security, stating that it’s as crucial to national security as physical borders. His comments came during a policy event in Washington, DC, where he discussed efforts by the Trump administration to address vulnerabilities in customs enforcement.

During a conversation with Matthew Boyle, the Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News, Scott responded to questions about the daily threats faced on the customs front. Boyle inquired about what challenges bad actors worldwide are leveraging to exploit weaknesses in U.S. customs.

Scott highlighted that major attention is often given to precursor chemicals and synthetic narcotics like fentanyl, which are sometimes hidden in the vast network of global trade. He mentioned that these illegal activities can use significant numbers of undocumented migrants at the border as a distraction from more significant threats.

He referred to an executive order signed by President Trump in June, which aims to obtain more detailed information in advance to better target and identify illicit commodities entering the U.S. This is part of a broader strategy to ensure that foreign companies and nation-states do not undermine American businesses through unfair trade practices.

Scott pointed out that if the economic situation in the country deteriorates to a point where it resembles a third-world nation, then protecting the borders becomes less meaningful. Therefore, preventing other nations from offloading low-cost goods that undercut U.S. companies is vital, and tariffs are a critical tool in this effort.

He also addressed potential biological threats, noting that while some may be incidental, there are indeed intentional risks where foreign entities could introduce invasive species that could devastate American agriculture. He reminded the audience that such responsibilities fall under the purview of CBP.

The event also featured discussions on border security and American sovereignty, with remarks from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. This gathering was organized in partnership with CGCN and the ALFA Institute.