Trump signs order to promote 'buy American, hire American'

US President Donald Trump is reportedly signing an executive order that directs the federal agencies to apply his "Buy American, Hire American" rhetoric during the 2016 presidential campaign. He is set to sign the executive order at Snap-on Tools in Kenosha, his first visit to Wisconsin since he took office.

The order looks to strengthen protections for particular American-made goods. CNN reported that senior administration officials said it calls for a review of the H-1B visa program specifically intended for skilled workers. Trump is also delivering a speech related to US manufacturing.

Senior administration officials told reporters Monday that the executive order would be helpful in protecting American manufacturers and workers. Trump’s administration believes that they have been hurt by lenient enforcement of "Buy American" laws while some employers are abusing the H1-B visa program.

Officials clarified that the executive order does not aim to take direct action to fundamentally change either portion, but to initiate a series of reviews and assessments and call on federal departments to start suggesting changes to the programs. It would also send a clear signal to federal agencies which tasks is to implement the programs where the administration wants to see a more aggressive stance.

One senior official pointed that the buy American and hire American rules have been extremely diluted over time, which has resulted to several lost jobs for Americans, adding that reforms for the rules have been called but to no avail. "This is what America wants," another official said.

As for the hire American rule, the order seeks to direct federal agencies to enforce H1-B visa laws more strictly. It also aims to avert fraud and abuse by ensuring that visas are awarded to the most-skilled applicants. Trump’s administration contended that there were some employers that abused the H1-B visa program, which allowed skilled workers in certain fields to the United States. It argues that it makes employers hire workers who will accept cheaper pay than Americans.

Meanwhile, the buy American part of the order directs agencies to conduct a "top-to-bottom performance review" of the use of waivers. The portion also urges a stricter enforcement of laws related to the of US-made goods by the federal government, as well as the use of US-made iron and steel in projects backed up by federal funds. An official stressed that buy American is the highest priority of the POTUS when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars.