Transit Sec Sean Duffy to withhold $160 million from California over noncitizen trucker licenses

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Sunday that his department plans to pull $160 million in funding from California, citing the state’s failure to comply with federal regulations on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy accused California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration of violating rules that require California to stop issuing certain CDLs and review those already issued.

“So, one, I’m about to pull $160 million from California,” Duffy explained. “And, as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses.”

The warning comes after the department tightened requirements last month for commercial licenses for noncitizens following a series of fatal crashes involving immigrant truck drivers. Under the new rules, only three specific visa classes will now qualify for CDLs, and states must verify applicants’ immigration status using a federal database. 

Duffy’s department had previously given California a 30-day deadline to submit a compliance plan or face the loss of funds. The department has further claimed that California should not have issued 25 percent of the licenses it has, citing four California licenses that remained valid even after a driver’s work permit expired. California’s authorities responded that their CDL-holders have a lower crash rate than the national average and than other large states such as Texas. 

Duffy had previously announced a withholding of $40 million because California has not enforced English language requirements for truckers. The state defended its practices in a response to the federal government, according to the Associated Press.

On Sunday, Duffy further claimed that California has issued tens of thousands of noncitizen licenses.

“So you have 60,000 people on the roads who shouldn’t have licenses,” Duffy said. “They’re driving fuel tankers, they’re driving school buses, and we have seen some of the crashes on American roadways that come from these people who shouldn’t have these licenses.”