Transportation Secretary Duffy to Withhold Funds from California

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration intends to withhold $40 million from California for not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers.

This decision follows a recent incident where an undocumented driver, Harjinder Singh, caused a fatal crash in Florida after making an illegal U-turn in August. California had granted commercial licenses to drivers under regulations that predated the accident.

Duffy pointed out California’s shortcomings in enforcing English proficiency requirements in light of one of President Trump’s executive orders.

Duffy remarked, “California is the only state that neglects to ensure that truck drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a crucial safety concern for everyone on the roads.” He further stressed that ignoring the Department of Transportation’s language requirements for truck drivers is unacceptable.

In a statement on X, he mentioned that Singh should not have obtained a commercial license due to his immigration status.

Diana Crofts Pelayo, a spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom, countered by stating that California’s crash rates for commercial truck drivers are lower than the national average.

She criticized Duffy, saying he may need to familiarize himself with road safety statistics, noting that California’s fatal crash rate among commercial drivers is significantly lower—almost 40%—than the national average. In contrast, Texas, which has a higher number of commercial drivers, has a much higher fatal crash rate.

Pelayo concluded, “The facts speak for themselves, whether the Trump administration accepts them or not.”

Harjinder Singh, originally from India, is facing charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations across three states and is currently being held without bail. Investigators discovered that Singh had failed the English proficiency test yet still received a truck driving license, prompting officials to assign blame to California and Washington state for that issuance.

Nevertheless, California claims that Singh held a valid work permit at the time of the incident. Allegedly, he crossed into the U.S. illegally from Mexico back in 2018.

To regain funding, California must implement enforcement of English language rules and ensure that truck drivers are tested for English proficiency during roadside checks, removing those who do not comply from the roads.