California Turns on Immigrant Truck Drivers, and Now Washington Seeks Compensation | Carscoops

      Federal funding was halted after California failed to meet a deadline to revoke 17,000 licenses granted to foreign-born truck drivers.

      California has decided against its earlier plan to cancel these commercial licenses.

      These licenses were issued with expiration dates that exceeded the limits of work permits.

      The Department of Transportation states that these licenses breach federal safety regulations and deadlines.

      The U.S. Department of Transportation is suspending $160 million in federal funds allocated for California, citing the state's noncompliance in revoking commercial driver’s licenses given to over 17,000 foreign-born truckers. Federal authorities assert that these licenses were issued unlawfully and should have been canceled months ago.

      During 2025, the Trump administration focused on tightening regulations concerning commercial licenses for immigrants, emphasizing the enforcement of English proficiency standards. This crackdown followed several high-profile accidents involving foreign drivers, highlighting gaps in regulatory oversight.

      Will California Yield?

      In November, California seemed to support the administration's initiative, with state officials indicating plans to revoke thousands of licenses due to mismatched expiration dates between federal work permits and state-issued credentials. This decision followed warnings from the Department of Transportation that crucial infrastructure funding might be withheld.

      At that juncture, California recognized that its licensing system was inconsistent with a state law mandating that commercial driver’s licenses expire by or before the date that a driver’s federal work authorization ends. However, just before the holiday season, the state reversed its decision, stating it would no longer invalidate the licenses despite previous warnings.

      A Federal Reaction

      This reversal quickly sparked backlash from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who confirmed that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would withhold $160 million in funds.

      “It’s reckoning day for Gavin Newsom and California,” Duffy stated. “Our demands were straightforward: comply with the rules, revoke the unlawfully issued licenses for dangerous foreign drivers, and rectify the system to prevent this issue from arising again. Gavin Newsom has not fulfilled these requirements—prioritizing the needs of undocumented immigrants over the safety of American citizens. While Gavin may disregard safeguarding you and your family on our roads, the Trump Administration does care. We are withdrawing this funding to ensure federal tax dollars are not used to support this farce.”

      FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs also remarked that the agency “will not entertain a solution that knowingly allows thousands of drivers with noncompliant licenses to operate 80,000-pound trucks in blatant defiance of federal safety regulations.”