The Department of Transportation under President Donald Trump has taken steps against another state led by Democrats, claiming it is unlawfully granting commercial driver’s licenses to individuals without a permanent address.
On Friday morning, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced that an investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revealed that over half of New York’s non-domicile commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) were issued improperly. The audit, which examined 200 records, found that 107—about 53%—were in violation of federal law.
There are currently around 32,000 active non-domicile CDLs in New York.
The DOT reported that for eight years, the New York State Department of Transportation failed to issue licenses to foreign drivers applying for non-REAL ID licenses, regardless of the expiration of their legal status. “This systemic flaw means that the state is enabling foreign nationals to continue driving commercially long after their legal presence has lapsed,” the DOT stated.
Moreover, the department stated that New York did not provide adequate evidence of verifying the legal status of individuals before granting them commercial licenses. In some instances, it appears the state used expired documents to facilitate these licenses.
Due to these findings, the DOT has instructed New York to halt the issuance of any new or renewed non-domicile CDLs and commercial learner permits immediately. The state must also carry out an internal audit to pinpoint licenses that were issued against federal regulations. The DOT warned that failure to revoke all unlawfully issued licenses could result in a loss of $73 million in federal highway funding.
“When over half of the reviewed licenses were issued illegally, it indicates more than just an error; it’s a significant failure of state leadership,” Duffy asserted. He urged Governor Kathy Hochul to revoke these licenses quickly, adding that noncompliance could lead to funding cuts for federal highways. “We are committed to ensuring safety for families on the road,” he said.
During a press conference on Friday, Duffy elaborated on the dangers posed by states that violate CDL regulations, stressing that such licenses grant individuals the ability to drive on interstate roads. He labeled New York as the top offender in this regard and set a 30-day deadline for compliance. Interestingly, both New York and California account for half of all non-domicile CDLs issued across the country.
FMCSA Secretary Derek Bars remarked, “What we uncovered in New York showcases not a mere oversight but rather a systemic and highly unacceptable breach of established federal safety protocols.”
