Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, announced he is withholding $160 million in federal highway funds from the state of California. This action follows accusations that California issued commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to non‑citizens in violation of recent federal regulations.
Duffy cited an audit that claims California issued tens of thousands of CDLs to non‑citizens, including individuals whose work permits had expired. He referenced a fatal crash involving a truck driver allegedly in the U.S. unlawfully, whose case triggered the broader investigation into state CDL‑issuance practices.
The federal directive requires states to verify applicants’ immigration status and English proficiency before granting CDLs. California reportedly failed to meet these standards by the September deadline, prompting the funding cut and the threat to revoke the state’s ability to issue CDLs in the future.
The dispute underscores the larger theme of federal vs. state control over immigration enforcement and public‑safety licensing. Duffy framed the move as defending American workers and highway safety, while California officials maintain they are compliant and claim the federal government is overstepping.
