Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that he will withhold $40 million in federal funding from California due to the state’s failure to enforce English language proficiency requirements for truck drivers. California is the only state not complying with these regulations, which were established following President Donald Trump’s executive order that took effect in June.
Duffy’s comments come in light of an investigation triggered by a fatal collision in Florida on August 12, where a foreign truck driver made an illegal U-turn. The inquiry revealed serious shortcomings in how California enforces the language requirements meant to ensure truckers can understand road signs and effectively communicate with law enforcement. Notably, California had issued a commercial license to the driver involved in the crash, even though the English rules predate the incident.
“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 road,” Duffy stated. He emphasized that truck drivers must be disqualified if they cannot demonstrate English proficiency, arguing that the driver should not have received a commercial license due to his immigration status.
California officials have defended their practices in response to the Transportation Department, but federal authorities remain dissatisfied. Following the announcement, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, pointed out that the state’s commercial truck drivers have a lower crash rate than the national average.
Despite California’s assertions, Duffy mentioned that during approximately 34,000 inspections conducted under the new language standards, only one resulted in a driver being taken out of service for an English language violation. In addition, 23 drivers with violations from other states were permitted to continue driving after inspections in California.
To reinstate the funding, California must implement regulations to enforce English language rules and ensure that state inspectors are evaluating truck drivers’ English skills during roadside inspections, removing those who fail. Duffy has also threatened to withdraw an additional $160 million from California over issues related to the state’s commercial driver’s license issuance process, which he significantly restricted last month.
The crash that initiated this scrutiny involved truck driver Harjinder Singh, who made an illegal U-turn on a highway north of West Palm Beach, resulting in the deaths of three people in a minivan that collided with his trailer. Singh and his passenger were uninjured. He is currently being held without bond on three counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations.
The crash has attracted significant attention due to concerns regarding Singh’s immigration status and his performance on an English proficiency test conducted after the incident. Duffy, along with Florida officials, has pointed fingers at California and Washington state for allowing Singh to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
California officials contend that Singh, who was issued a license in July 2024, had a valid work permit at the time. Furthermore, video from a traffic stop in New Mexico shows Singh effectively communicating with an officer.
Duffy, President Trump, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have exchanged criticism with Newsom regarding whether Singh should have been allowed to drive a truck. Newsom’s office emphasizes that California adhered to regulations in issuing Singh’s license and that federal authorities confirmed his legal status in the country at that time. Meanwhile, Duffy and Florida authorities allege that Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.
