The Trump administration is threatening to withhold millions in federal funding from Pennsylvania following the arrest of a truck driver on terrorism charges. This situation came to light after Pennsylvania was found to be violating federal safety regulations by allegedly issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to foreign nationals without proper address verification.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused the state of granting these licenses to ineligible individuals without confirming their legal standing, stating the DOT would hold back $75 million in federal funds unless Pennsylvania took swift corrective action regarding its CDL program.
This announcement coincided with the arrest of Akrur Bozorov, a suspected illegal immigrant from Uzbekistan facing allegations related to terrorism back in his home country. He reportedly obtained a CDL in Pennsylvania, a detail that raised concerns after he was apprehended by immigration authorities earlier this month.
“Under President Trump, our department is doing everything possible to prevent dangerous foreign drivers from operating large vehicles on American roads,” Duffy remarked in a statement.
His letter indicated that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found significant mismanagement on the part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This includes issuing CDLs with expiration dates beyond the driver’s authorized stay in the U.S. and not requiring proof of legal residency before license issuance.
The DOT is mandating that Pennsylvania suspend the issuing of new or upgraded CDLs, conduct thorough audits to track down licenses given in violation of rules, and remove any unqualified drivers from the roads.
In response, a PennDOT spokesperson, Alexis Campbell, indicated that the department has already halted the issuance of commercial driver licenses that lack a residential address. She mentioned that PennDOT has cooperated with FMCSA audits and claimed that only eligible applicants are granted licenses.
This announcement is part of a broader crackdown on foreign drivers following a fatal accident that reportedly involved an illegal immigrant operating a truck. New emergency regulations, enacted by the DOT earlier this year, require undocumented individuals seeking a CDL to undergo a federal immigration status check and hold an employment-based visa. However, these rules primarily target undocumented immigrants rather than legal residents, raising some safety concerns.
Opposition has emerged against the new regulations from various pro-Democratic labor organizations, resulting in a lawsuit, and a recent court decision has temporarily put the rule on hold as legal challenges unfold.
Furthermore, the DOT, which has already taken $40 million from Pennsylvania, is warning of an additional $160 million cut in federal funds due to alleged non-compliance with English proficiency standards, specifically accusing California of incorrectly issuing 17,000 non-residential CDLs to immigrant drivers.
