Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced this week that the state of Pennsylvania is in violation of federal law after issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to individuals who are in the country illegally.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) improperly issued non-domiciled CDLs to people without verifying their lawful presence. In some instances, the state issued licenses with expiration dates extending beyond an individual’s authorized stay in the U.S.
As a result, the Department of Transportation is threatening to withhold nearly $75 million in federal funding unless Pennsylvania revokes all of the improperly issued licenses and corrects the systemic flaws that allowed the violation to occur.
“This is a direct threat to national security and public safety,” Duffy said. “We will not allow unqualified foreign nationals to operate 80,000-pound trucks on American highways.”
Audit Triggered by Suspected Terrorist Arrest
The crackdown stems from a nationwide audit that began in June, shortly after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a suspected terrorist who had illegally entered the U.S. and obtained a Pennsylvania CDL. That arrest raised serious questions about the state’s vetting procedures.
Secretary Duffy cited the case as a wake-up call. “This never should have happened. Pennsylvania failed to do its job, and now the American people are paying the price,” he said.
The Trump administration is now demanding that Pennsylvania:
Immediately pause all issuance and renewal of non-domiciled CDLs and commercial learner’s permits (CLPs).
Conduct a full audit to identify all invalid licenses.
Revoke all active licenses that were issued unlawfully.
Trump’s Road Safety Executive Order Spurs Crackdown
The enforcement action is part of President Donald Trump’s broader transportation and immigration policy agenda. Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Transportation to tighten commercial driver safety standards, including strict enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements.
That order requires all commercial drivers in the U.S. to demonstrate sufficient English skills to read road signs, communicate with police, and handle safety documentation. It also orders FMCSA to revoke the Obama-era guidance that allowed states to overlook English proficiency during CDL inspections.
Duffy has since launched multiple initiatives including:
Emergency restrictions on CDL eligibility for non-citizens.
A nationwide audit that uncovered widespread CDL fraud.
A mandate placing non-English-proficient drivers out of service immediately.
New regulations supporting Trump’s March order declaring English the official language of the United States.
Wider Implications for States Enabling Illegals
Pennsylvania’s violations are now under federal scrutiny, but the audit suggests this may be a nationwide issue. The Transportation Department is reviewing other states that may be issuing CDLs to ineligible noncitizens or failing to verify lawful presence.
“This is not about politics,” Duffy said. “It’s about protecting the public from catastrophic risk. Any state that cuts corners on CDL vetting will be held accountable.”
The post Duffy: Pennsylvania Breaking Federal Law By Issuing Commercial Driver’s Licenses to Illegals appeared first on Real News Now.
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