Duffy Withdraws $160 Million from California Due to Truck License Issues
The U.S. Department of Transportation is withholding approximately $160 million from California due to the state’s failure to promptly cancel thousands of commercial driver’s licenses that were allegedly issued unlawfully.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will retract funding after California missed a January 5 deadline to revoke 17,000 licenses granted to foreign-born truckers. Although California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has agreed to cancel these licenses, it recently extended the planned revocation date by two months.
Duffy’s agency claims that California’s licensing program for foreign-born drivers has “collapsed,” enabling the issuance of licenses to individuals who do not meet eligibility requirements and whose status extends beyond lawful presence in the U.S. This action is part of a broader initiative by the Transportation Department to tighten regulations on immigrant truck drivers.
“Our demands were straightforward: adhere to the rules, revoke the unlawfully issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers, and rectify the system to prevent future occurrences,” Duffy stated on Wednesday. He criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, asserting that the governor has prioritized the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens.
In response, California’s DMV issued a statement asserting its compliance with both federal and state regulations. The agency emphasized that it had engaged in “positive conversations” with the FMCSA regarding the need for additional time to review the licensing program.
“We strongly disagree with the federal government’s decision to withhold vital transportation funding from California. This action jeopardizes public safety, as these funds are essential for maintaining and improving the roadways that we all rely on daily,” the DMV added.
This marks the second instance in three months where the federal government has withheld funding from California due to trucking industry standards. In October, the FMCSA announced it would withhold $40 million for motor carrier enforcement after an investigation revealed that the state was not adequately enforcing English language proficiency requirements.
Top photo: Traffic on Interstate 80 in San Pablo, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. AAA projects that 81.8 million travelers will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation is withholding approximately $160 million from California due to the state’s failure to promptly cancel thousands of commercial driver’s licenses that were allegedly issued unlawfully.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will retract funding after California missed a January 5 deadline to revoke 17,000 licenses granted to foreign-born truckers. Although California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has agreed to cancel these licenses, it recently extended the planned revocation date by two months.
Duffy’s agency claims that California’s licensing program for foreign-born drivers has “collapsed,” enabling the issuance of licenses to individuals who do not meet eligibility requirements and whose status extends beyond lawful presence in the U.S. This action is part of a broader initiative by the Transportation Department to tighten regulations on immigrant truck drivers.
“Our demands were straightforward: adhere to the rules, revoke the unlawfully issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers, and rectify the system to prevent future occurrences,” Duffy stated on Wednesday. He criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, asserting that the governor has prioritized the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens.
In response, California’s DMV issued a statement asserting its compliance with both federal and state regulations. The agency emphasized that it had engaged in “positive conversations” with the FMCSA regarding the need for additional time to review the licensing program.
“We strongly disagree with the federal government’s decision to withhold vital transportation funding from California. This action jeopardizes public safety, as these funds are essential for maintaining and improving the roadways that we all rely on daily,” the DMV added.
This marks the second instance in three months where the federal government has withheld funding from California due to trucking industry standards. In October, the FMCSA announced it would withhold $40 million for motor carrier enforcement after an investigation revealed that the state was not adequately enforcing English language proficiency requirements.
Top photo: Traffic on Interstate 80 in San Pablo, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. AAA projects that 81.8 million travelers will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
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California
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