Donald Trump proposed the creation of a new federal agency, the External Revenue Service, to collect tariffs from U.S. trading partners, but it was pointed out that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency already performs this function. Trump's plan for the new agency contradicts his previous calls to eliminate government jobs and departments. The president-elect's announcement of the External Revenue Service suggests that his tariff threats are more than just a negotiating tactic. However, the existence of the U.S. Customs Service, established in 1789, makes the proposed agency redundant.