The transportation secretary announced that $160 million in funding will be withheld from the state over lack of CDL compliance.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has ordered California to suspend the issuance of certain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) after an audit found that one in four non-domiciled CDLs were issued improperly, in violation of federal regulations. The review was conducted after a crash last week, in which a truck driven by an Indian national, operating under a California-issued non-domiciled CDL, killed three people and injured two others.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the agency’s actions were intended to restore compliance and safety within the licensing system following the tragedy. He also announced that federal transportation funding would be withheld from the state.
“I’m about to pull $160 million from California,” Secretary 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 transportation secretary said that California has issued tens of thousands of CDLs to noncitizens. He continued, “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.”
The new federal rule, issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), limits eligibility for non-domiciled CDLs to individuals with verified immigration status and specific employment-based visas who also pass English-language tests.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Duffy to seek God’s direction as he heads the Transportation Department.
- For wisdom for U.S. transportation officials as they seek to ensure states comply with CDL regulations to improve safety on the nation’s highways.
Sources: Department of Transportation, The Post Millennial
