Controversy Over CDL Licensing in California

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, asserting that he’s violated new federal regulations regarding commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) by permitting undocumented immigrants to hold these licenses.

Recently, a highway accident in California resulted in the deaths of three people, with the truck driver implicated in the crash being accused of driving under the influence. Governor Newsom, meanwhile, argues that the federal government shares responsibility for the incident, claiming that federal policy enabled the suspect’s licensing. Duffy, however, dismisses this defense.

The situation has intensified as Duffy threatens to cut millions of dollars in federal highway funding to California and is increasing oversight of how noncitizens obtain state-issued licenses.

Duffy remarked, “If Gavin had followed the Department of Transportation regulations, this man would never have been on the road. Three other people would be alive.”

The crash occurred on a highway in Southern California, with Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old from India, reportedly driving the truck involved. Allegedly, he was driving while intoxicated, leading to a multi-vehicle incident.

The Department of Transportation claims that California broke federal rules by upgrading Singh’s CDL without verifying his address, despite a compliance notice issued recently. According to officials, had California adhered to emergency regulations, Singh would not have been licensed to operate a heavy vehicle.

California originally issued Singh a CDL in June and upgraded it in mid-October, shortly after new federal regulations went into effect.

The Newsom administration expressed condolences regarding the crash but accused the Trump administration of leveraging the situation for political gain. They pointed out that federal approvals allowed Singh to secure his commercial license lawfully.

In response, Duffy emphasized that the guidelines provided by the federal government were not followed by the state, asserting it was ultimately Newsom’s decision to allow Singh to upgrade his license.

Newsom’s office contended that California’s licensing policies align with federal law, while California’s Department of Transportation stated that the eligibility for commercial licenses is determined federally, not by the states.