Border security agents are flooding back into service following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, reversing years of declining morale and recruitment struggles under former President Joe Biden. According to an internal Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by the Daily Caller, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applications surged by 44% from January through May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The shift coincides with the leadership change at DHS under Secretary Kristi Noem. During Biden’s tenure, CBP struggled with unprecedented border chaos, including more than 8.5 million illegal crossings and over 1.7 million known gotaways. The crisis pushed agency morale to historic lows, prompting DHS to hire a “suicidologist” in 2021 as suicide rates among agents climbed.
Agents were reportedly disillusioned by the Biden administration’s immigration policies and lack of enforcement. DHS resources were stretched thin, and hundreds of individuals on the terror watchlist were caught crossing the southern border.
Under President Trump, CBP has seen dramatic operational improvements. Illegal crossings have dropped sharply, and the agency is attracting new recruits at a rate not seen in years. The improvement has extended to other branches of federal service, with recruitment also rising in the U.S. Secret Service and the military.
A DHS spokesperson cited the restoration of morale and resources as key drivers of the resurgence. “We are reinvigorating the Secret Service and providing it with the resources our brave men and women need to do their jobs,” the spokesperson said.
The contrast between administrations highlights how policies at the top can profoundly impact national security and workforce morale. Trump’s commitment to law enforcement and border control is delivering tangible results where the previous administration faltered.
