DOT Threatens $160 Million Funding Cut to California Over CDL Licensing Practices
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is poised to withhold $160 million in federal funding from California and perhaps revoke the state’s authority to issue Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), escalating a dispute over alleged licensing violations.The move, announced by DOT Secretary Sean Duffy on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with maria Bartiromo, comes a month after the DOT issued an emergency action requiring states to pause issuing licenses to non-citizens.
The escalating tension stems from a series of high-profile, fatal crashes that have ignited a national debate regarding CDL requirements and the vetting process for non-domiciled drivers. A recent crash in Florida, involving 28-year-old harjinder Singh, a truck driver from Stockton, California, resulted in three deaths and sparked federal scrutiny. Singh, a native of India, was arrested in California and extradited to Florida on vehicular homicide charges, with federal authorities initially claiming he was in the contry illegally.
Gavin Newsom and the White House, especially concerning immigration policies and the deployment of National Guard troops. Newsom,who is term-limited and has hinted at a potential White House run after the 2026 midterm elections,has consistently challenged federal actions.
Further fueling the controversy, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, was charged this week in connection with a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in California that left three people dead and several others injured. He faces charges including driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to san Bernardino County records.
Duffy has already withheld $40 million from California for failing to enforce english language requirements for CDL applicants. He warned that if California dose not comply within 30 days of the September 26 announcement, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Management (FMCSA) will withhold an additional $160 million in federal highway funds. This action follows a nationwide audit by the FMCSA, which revealed “systemic non-compliance across several states, the worst and most egregious in California.”
Republican lawmakers are also pushing for stricter regulations, including legislation requiring all commercial truck drivers in the U.S. to pass a standardized English proficiency test. Representative Troy Nehls of Texas stated,”if you aren’t proficient in English and can’t read road signs that are written in English,you shouldn’t be allowed to drive an 18-wheeler.”
California DMV spokesperson Jonathan groveman, regarding the Harjinder Singh case, stated on October 20, “The DMV confirmed Mr. Singh’s documents using the federal SAVE system. Moreover, Mr. Singh’s commercial driver’s license is a federal REAL ID, which he was entitled to receive given the federal government’s confirmation of his legal status.”
though, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin countered in a news release on Thursday, stating, “It is indeed a terrible tragedy three innocent people lost their lives due to the reckless open border policies that allowed an illegal alien to be released into the U.S. and drive an 18-wheeler on America’s highways.” She highlighted a similar fatal accident in Indiana involving another driver allegedly in the country illegally.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on October 16 that his office is taking legal action against California and Washington state, accusing them of non-compliance with federal safety and immigration requirements for CDLs. he stated, “It’s a shame, and that’s why we’re taking Gavin Newsom to the Supreme Court-to hold them accountable for the carnage that their sanctuary illegal immigration policies have caused to states like Florida.”
In a pointed response to Duffy, California Governor Newsom’s Press Office posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday regarding a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport, stating, “Hell of a job, @SecDuffy. Can’t wait to see what you do with NASA.”
The situation remains fluid as florida’s attorney general pursues its legal complaint and the DOT awaits California’s response to the funding threat. The outcome will likely have critically important implications for CDL regulations and the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and transportation safety nationwide.
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