Day of Reckoning: DOT Pulls $160M from California Over Illegal CDLs

Source: AFP

In a dramatic move, the U.S. Department of Transportation has withheld $160 million from California, accusing the state of failing to revoke over 17,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) deemed unlawful.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it “Reckoning Day,” directly blaming Governor Gavin Newsom for “putting illegal immigrants over the safety of American families.”

The FMCSA finalized its determination after California missed the January 5 deadline to comply. The withheld funds come from the National Highway Performance Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant.

California’s DMV had extended CDL validity by 60 days, citing legal action from the Sikh Coalition, but federal officials rejected the extension outright.

“We will not accept a corrective plan that leaves thousands of unsafe drivers behind the wheel,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs.

Washington is freezing $160M in federal funding for California for failing to cancel more than 17,000 CDLs deemed illegal. Duffy calls it “Reckoning Day,” and the FMCSA says the state missed the Jan. 5 deadline.