The Trump administration will withhold $40 million from California for failing to enforce English language requirements for commercial truck drivers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday.
The decision follows a fatal crash in Florida in August, when Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant truck driver, killed three people after making an illegal U-turn. California had issued Singh a commercial driver’s license (CDL) despite English proficiency rules that predate the crash.
Safety Concerns Prompt Action
Duffy cited California’s failure to follow federal English proficiency standards set by a Trump executive order.
“California is the only state refusing to ensure big rig drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement,” Duffy said. “This is a fundamental safety issue that affects every American on our roads.”
He also took to X, writing, “The Golden State can ignore @USDOT English language requirements all it wants, but not at the expense of American lives.”
Duffy argued that the Florida crash driver should never have received a CDL due to his immigration status.
California Pushes Back
California officials disputed the administration’s claims. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, told Fox News Digital that the state’s commercial truck drivers have a lower crash rate than the national average.
“It seems the Secretary of Transportation needs a lesson about the laws of his own roads,” she said. “California CDL holders have a fatal accident rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. By comparison, Texas, with more CDL holders, has a rate nearly 50% higher.”
Crofts-Pelayo added, “The facts don’t lie, though for the Trump administration, they seem optional.”
Legal Case Against Driver
Singh, an Indian citizen, is held without bond. He faces three counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations. Investigators said he failed an English proficiency test but still obtained a CDL.
Florida and federal officials have blamed both California and Washington state for issuing the license. California officials maintain that Singh had a valid work permit at the time, though he entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.
Conditions for Funding Reinstatement
To regain the $40 million in federal funds, California must enforce English language rules. This includes testing drivers during roadside inspections and removing anyone who fails from the road.
