Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday threatened to pull $75 million in federal funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation if it does not revoke commercial driver’s licenses given to “ineligible and unqualified” drivers.
The threat comes after the Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a nationwide audit that alleged the state violated federal safety regulations through its illegal issuance of nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses, including to illegal immigrants.
The FMCSA’s review found that PennDOT issued nondomiciled CDLs with expiration dates far beyond drivers’ authorized stays in the United States and failed to require applicants to provide any proof of lawful presence.
If the state wishes to keep the funding, Duffy demanded that it must immediately pause the issuance of all new, renewed, transferred, or upgraded nondomiciled CDLs or commercial learner’s permits. He said it must also conduct an extensive internal audit to identify any CDLs issued that do not comply with federal regulations, policies, practices, or procedures.
Duffy said the state also must void or rescind all unexpired or noncompliant licenses.
The demands follow a string of actions by President Donald Trump and Duffy to remove unqualified drivers from the U.S. truck driving industry.
Trump signed an executive order in April directing DOT to focus on roadway safety.
Duffy announced an emergency action plan in September to reduce the number of eligible applicants of nondomiciled CDLs and CLPs.
DUFFY CRACKS DOWN ON FOREIGN TRUCK DRIVER’S LICENSES, THREATENS STATE FUNDING
The emergency action follows Duffy’s announcement of a nationwide audit in June, which highlighted several states that did not comply with federal regulations when issuing nondomiciled CDLs.
Prior to the audit, Duffy signed an order in May that announced new guidelines to strengthen English language enforcement for commercial truck operators. The new guidance requires commercial motor vehicle drivers who fail to comply with FMCSA’s long-standing English-language proficiency requirements to be decommissioned.
