DOT to withhold $40M from California over trucker language standards
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it will withhold over $40 million in federal funding from California due to the state’s failure to enforce English language proficiency standards for commercial truck drivers. This action follows a directive from President Donald Trump’s management, which required all states to implement and uphold English language requirements for truckers to ensure road safety. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized California as the only state refusing to confirm that truck drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement, calling it a basic safety issue. The withheld funds come from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program and will remain frozen until California enforces the federal standards by conducting English proficiency assessments during roadside inspections.California Governor Gavin Newsom has opposed these requirements, and his office has argued that California truck drivers have a lower crash rate than the national average. The dispute escalated after a fatal crash in Florida involving a California-licensed driver who failed an English test. Additionally, the DOT has warned it may withhold another $160 million over concerns about California’s commercial driver licensing process.
DOT to withhold over $40M from California for failing to enforce trucker language standards
The Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it will withhold more than $40 million in funding from California after it found that the state did not comply with language proficiency standards for commercial truck drivers.
President Donald Trump‘s administration insisted that states enforce its English language standards for truckers earlier this year or face consequences.
“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.
“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s roads,” he added.
$40,685,225 from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program will be rescinded, hindering the state’s funding toward traffic safety. Duffy said Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is forcing his hand in taking the funding away.
“Let me be clear — this is valuable money that should be going to the great men and women in California law enforcement, who we support. Gov. Newsom’s insistence on obstructing federal law has tied my hands,” he added.
The DOT says the funding will not be returned until the language standards are enforced.
“California must adopt and actively enforce a law, regulation, standard, or order that is compatible with the federal ELP requirement for commercial drivers. This means state inspectors need to begin conducting ELP assessments during roadside inspections and place those who fail out of service,” the department said.
In April, Trump signed an executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to speak English. Duffy matched the order in May, signing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration policy.
Newsom’s office told The Hill that Duffy “needs a lesson on his own road rules” and pointed to statistics that show California truck drivers crash at a lower rate than the national average.
California also received scrutiny from the Trump administration after a commercial driver licensed in the state made an illegal U-turn in Florida and caused a crash that killed three people. He failed an English proficiency test after the crash.
TRUMP DOT TO PUNISH STATES THAT DO NOT ENFORCE ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS
Newsom’s office has maintained that the driver was in the country legally when their license was issued.
Duffy has also threatened to pull another $160 million from California because of the state’s process to issue commercial driver’s licenses. “We have a government system designed to keep American families on the road safe. But that system has been compromised,” Duffy said.
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