By JOSH FUNK
Funding Withheld Over Language Enforcement
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that he will withhold $40 million from California, the sole state not enforcing English proficiency requirements for truck drivers.
Investigations and License Issues
This decision follows an investigation into a fatal crash in Florida involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on August 12. Duffy criticized California for its inadequate enforcement of rules that began in June following an executive order from President Donald Trump. Although California issued a commercial license to the driver, the English language requirements existed before the crash.
Safety Concerns Raised
Truck drivers are disqualified if they cannot prove English proficiency, and Duffy stated that the driver in the Florida incident should not have received a commercial license due to his immigration status. The incident has sparked political tensions, with California and Florida’s governors exchanging criticisms, while Duffy emphasized immigration concerns in his discussions.
California’s Defense
California defended its licensing procedures in response to the Transportation Department last month, but federal officials remained unsatisfied. Following the announcement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office countered Duffy’s claims, indicating that truck drivers in the state have a lower accident rate than the national average.
Inspection Findings
Duffy noted that since the new language requirements were implemented, California conducted about 34,000 inspections, identifying multiple violations, but only one resulted in an English language rules infraction leading to a driver being taken out of service. Moreover, 23 drivers were allowed to continue operating despite violations in other states.
Regulatory Conditions for Funding
The Transportation Department specified that California must enforce the English language rules and ensure state inspectors are testing drivers’ English skills during roadside checks to have their funding reinstated. Additionally, Duffy has threatened to retract another $160 million over the state’s commercial driver license issuance practices.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The accident resulted in three fatalities when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn on a highway, leading to a collision with a minivan. Singh, who was uninjured, now faces charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations and is being held without bond. His immigration status and subsequent failure of an English proficiency test have intensified scrutiny of the case.
Political Reactions and Controversy
Officials from California have asserted that Singh had a valid work permit at the time of the incident and released video evidence showing him effectively communicating with law enforcement in New Mexico prior to the crash. Duffy, President Trump, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have exchanged criticisms with Newsom over Singh’s eligibility to drive a truck.
