Over one-third of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to non-domiciled individuals in Minnesota were illegally granted, according to a federal audit revealed Monday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) warned the state it has 30 days to correct violations or face the loss of up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding.
The audit uncovered that Minnesota issued CDLs to foreign nationals whose legal presence in the U.S. had expired, whose status was not verified, or who were outright ineligible to receive a commercial license under federal law. These findings followed an extensive review as part of the Trump administration’s national initiative to remove unqualified non-citizens from behind the wheel of heavy commercial vehicles.
“Minnesota is openly and blatantly defying our rules, plain and simple,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs. “Under the Trump Administration, states have two choices: meet our standards or face the consequences. Following the law is not optional.”
Transportation Secretary Duffy pointed to the failure of leadership under Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), stating, “Minnesota failed to follow the law and illegally doled out trucking licenses to unsafe, unqualified non-citizens—endangering American families on the road. That abuse stops now.”
The Department of Transportation is demanding a halt to all non-domiciled CDL issuances in the state and a full audit to identify and revoke licenses that were issued in violation of federal law.
The latest audit comes amid increasing scrutiny of foreign commercial drivers, following multiple fatal crashes across the country. In November alone, nearly 250 foreign truck drivers were arrested by federal and state authorities, according to reports.
The Trump administration’s focus on transportation safety has brought renewed attention to states’ licensing practices and exposed a dangerous loophole that places American motorists at risk. Officials have made clear that states enabling illegal activity through negligence or defiance will face funding cuts and accountability measures.
