Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday that California, Washington, and New Mexico could face significant federal funding losses if they do not enforce English language standards for truck drivers.
This statement follows an investigation into a tragic accident in Florida involving a foreign truck driver, who executed an illegal U-turn. Duffy noted that the investigation revealed considerable lapses in enforcement of the rules that were established in June following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Truck drivers are required to prove their proficiency in English, and Duffy emphasized that the driver involved in the fatal crash—resulting in three deaths—should never have received a commercial driver’s license due to his immigration status. The crash has sparked a political dispute between the governors of California and Florida, with Duffy drawing attention to immigration issues associated with the Trump administration.
“States cannot selectively enforce federal safety regulations,” Duffy stated. “As highlighted by the horrific crash in Florida, non-compliance by states endangers public safety.”
He reported that California had conducted approximately 34,000 inspections since the implementation of the new language requirements but only identified one violation related to English proficiency, with only one driver subsequently removed from service. In contrast, 23 drivers with violations from other states were allowed to continue driving in California. Washington similarly reported over 6,000 safety violations but only removed four drivers for language-related issues, while New Mexico did not disqualify any drivers.
Duffy mentioned that the states risk losing funding from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if they do not comply within 30 days. California could lose around $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million. The states had not immediately commented on the proposed penalties.
Three individuals were killed when truck driver Harjinder Singh, who is now facing criminal charges, made an illegal U-turn. Singh’s immigration status has raised concerns, with federal authorities confirming that he was in the U.S. illegally. This case has garnered significant media attention, according to Diamond R. Litty, the public defender assigned to Singh’s case, who noted that it has drawn political scrutiny.
