Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he is “about to pull $160 million from California” over what he calls illegal commercial driver’s licenses for noncitizens. He also warned in a Fox News interview on Sunday that the state could lose its ability to issue the licenses.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles countered that the Trump administration “has no legitimate basis” to withhold funds, and said the state is complying with federal rules.
The funding threat comes as the 26-day government shutdown strains U.S. travel. More than 8,000 flights were also delayed Sunday amid air traffic controller absences, with shortages at 22 FAA facilities and further disruptions expected, Reuters reported.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
What’s behind the California dispute?
Duffy said Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration refused to halt issuing CDLs for people who are not citizens, and would not review existing licenses as required by new Transportation Department rules. Duffy said a review of 145 licenses found that 25% were issued improperly, and he alleged there are “60,000 people on the roads who shouldn’t have licenses,” including operators of fuel tankers and school buses.
NBC News reports that Duffy said California has issued tens of thousands of licenses wrongly.
California’s DMV said it is in compliance with emergency federal regulations that took effect Sept. 29 and that Washington previously allowed CDLs for asylum seekers and refugees.
California had 30 days to present a compliance plan or face funding cuts, Duffy said.
What the new federal rules require
The Transportation Department tightened CDL eligibility for noncitizens last month after officials linked crashes to immigrant drivers. The department limited eligibility to three visa categories, required states to verify status in a federal database, and capped license validity at up to one year or until a visa expires.
Duffy also said earlier this month he would withhold $40 million over California’s enforcement of English-language requirements. The state disputed the federal findings.
How the shutdown is affecting flyers
Duffy said Sunday that air traffic controllers “are wearing thin” as many work without pay and look for second jobs. The FAA issued ground delays at Chicago O’Hare, Reagan National and Newark, after an earlier ground stop at Los Angeles was lifted, according to Reuters.
Airlines saw widespread delays, including about 45% of Southwest flights and roughly a third of flights with American Airlines. The Hill reported that Duffy warned travelers to expect more delays this week. He added that controller shortages and delays could worsen as unpaid workers miss a full paycheck.
