In brief
During an interview on Fox News, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that California is in jeopardy of losing $160 million in federal funding due to noncompliance with federal regulations governing the issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). Duffy claims that the state has unlawfully issued CDLs to noncitizens, citing safety concerns following a crash incident. California officials defend their record, asserting lower crash rates among CDL holders and seeking to maintain their existing practices.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Sunday that he is poised to follow through with his threat to revoke millions in federal funds allocated for California, citing the state's alleged illegal issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to noncitizens.
In an interview on Fox News Channel's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' Duffy accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of ignoring directives from the Department of Transportation which demand a halt to the distribution of such licenses and a review of those currently in circulation.
“So, I’m about to pull $160 million from California,” Duffy stated. “And as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses.”
A spokesperson for Newsom redirected requests for comment to the state’s transportation agency, which has not yet responded.
California has previously defended its issuance of CDLs, claiming that holders from the state experience a significantly lower crash rate compared to the national average, as well as that of Texas, the state with the highest number of licensed commercial drivers.
Last month, the Department of Transportation tightened its CDL regulations for noncitizens following several fatal accidents purportedly involving immigrant truck drivers. The revised guidelines stipulate that only specific visa holders qualify for CDLs, and states must confirm applicants' immigration status through a federal database. The licenses are now valid for a maximum of one year or until the applicant’s visa expires.
According to Duffy, California should not have issued as many as 25% of 145 CDLs that investigators reviewed. He highlighted four California-issued licenses that remained valid long after the driver's work permit had expired.
A comprehensive nationwide audit commenced after an incident in Florida where a driver using an illegal license was involved in a fatal crash, driving the need for stricter regulations. California, among other states, has come under scrutiny for improperly issued licenses.
Duffy reiterated, We have 60,000 people on the roads who shouldn’t have licenses, driving potentially hazardous vehicles like fuel tankers and school buses. This is a public safety concern that we cannot ignore. He additionally mentioned plans to withhold $40 million from California for failing to enforce English language requirements for commercial drivers.
As investigations continue, California has formally responded to the Transportation Department's findings but federal officials express ongoing dissatisfaction.
