Withholding Funds Over English Proficiency Enforcement
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that he will withhold $40 million from California, the only state not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers. This decision follows an investigation initiated after a fatal crash in Florida involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on August 12. Duffy highlighted significant shortcomings in California’s enforcement of rules that took effect in June, stemming from one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
The investigation revealed that the driver, who was issued a commercial license in California, should not have qualified due to his inability to demonstrate English proficiency. Following the crash, tensions heightened as California’s and Florida’s governors exchanged criticisms, with Duffy drawing attention to immigration concerns during his interviews. “California is the only state that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that affects families across America,” Duffy stated.
California’s Response and Inspection Findings
California defended its practices last month in a formal reply to the Transportation Department, but federal officials expressed dissatisfaction. In response to Duffy’s announcement, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, pointed out that commercial truck drivers in California have a lower crash rate than the national average.
Despite this, Duffy noted that California conducted around 34,000 inspections since the new language standards were implemented, identifying at least one violation in those inspections; however, only one instance involved a driver being removed from service for failing to meet English proficiency requirements. Furthermore, 23 violated drivers from other states were permitted to continue driving after inspections in California.
Funding Reinstatement Conditions
The Transportation Department has set conditions for California to have this funding reinstated: it must adopt regulations enforcing the English language rules and ensure state inspectors test truck drivers’ English skills during roadside checks, taking anyone failing the test out of service.
Additionally, Duffy has threatened to withdraw another $160 million from California concerning its commercial driver’s license issuance processes. He recently tightened eligibility criteria for these licenses.
The Fatal Crash Investigation
The tragic incident led to three deaths when truck driver Harjinder Singh executed an illegal U-turn, resulting in a collision with a minivan near West Palm Beach. Singh, who was uninjured, now faces charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations and is being held without bond.
The scrutiny surrounding the crash intensified, focusing on Singh’s immigration status and subsequent failure of an English proficiency test. Although Duffy and Florida officials criticized California for issuing Singh’s commercial license, California maintained that he possessed a valid work permit at that time, and video evidence showed him effectively communicating with law enforcement during a prior traffic stop in New Mexico.
Political Fallout and Dispute Over Licensing
As the situation unfolds, Duffy, President Donald Trump, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have engaged in a war of words with Newsom regarding whether Singh should have been permitted to operate a truck. Newsom’s office has asserted that California complied with all regulations when granting Singh his license in July 2024, and the federal government confirmed his legal status at that time. Meanwhile, Duffy and Florida authorities have alleged that Singh, originally from India, illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2018.
