Transportation Secretary Warns New York Over Trucking Licenses

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a stark warning to New York, stating that the state must cease issuing trucking licenses to illegal immigrants or risk losing $73 million in federal highway funds.

During a press conference on Friday, Duffy revealed findings from a Department of Transportation (DOT) review, indicating that New York is the state most likely to breach federal regulations concerning the issuance of “non-domiciled” commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

“What New York does is if an applicant comes in and they have a work authorization — for 30 days, 60 days, one year — New York automatically issues them an eight-year commercial driver’s license,” he explained. “That’s contrary to the law.”

“But we also found that New York often fails to verify if these applicants possess valid work authorization, a visa, or are legally in the country,” he added, emphasizing that licenses are being issued without adequate checks. “They’re putting people on the road who could endanger families.”

This press conference was held following a nationwide audit of states issuing CDLs, launched by the DOT in conjunction with the Federal Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

New York, along with several other states, has been singled out for taking corrective measures, and it currently has the highest non-compliance rate among those audited.

Out of 32,000 CDLs utilized in the U.S. from New York, a random FMCSA audit of 200 records found that 107 were issued in violation of federal law.

“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake—it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy stated. “If they refuse to follow the law, we will withhold federal highway funding.”

Duffy further pointed out that possessing a New York commercial driver’s license extends beyond state borders, as these drivers operate across the country.

Additionally, the DOT has begun an investigation regarding a Chinese national implicated in a deadly crash on a Tennessee highway to determine if they were illegally issued a New York State driver’s license.

New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul and her team have been given 30 days to revoke all unlawfully issued CDLs and halt the issuance of any new licenses or learner’s permits. They are required to undertake a comprehensive audit, or they may face significant cuts in their funding.

In a similar vein, Duffy has warned California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota about potential funding cuts due to various irregularities found during audits, such as the issuance of commercial licenses even after a driver’s work permit has expired. Notably, California has recently rescinded 17,000 licenses.