Pennsylvania Warned It Could Lose $75 Million if State Fails to Revoke Illegally Issued CDLs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal transportation officials are threatening to withhold nearly $75 millionfrom Pennsylvania after a nationwide audit revealed the state illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to ineligible foreign nationals, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The announcement came Thursday from Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uncovered serious violations in Pennsylvania’s handling of non-domiciled CDLs — licenses issued to non–U.S. citizens.

The warning follows the arrest of an Uzbek national with suspected terror ties who was found driving a semi-truck in Kansas while holding a Pennsylvania CDL.

Major Failures Identified in CDL Verification

FMCSA’s review found that PennDOT issued CDLs without verifying legal presence, and in some cases granted licenses with expiration dates that extended beyond the applicant’s authorized stay.

Federal officials said these failures violate long-established safety regulations meant to keep unqualified foreign drivers from operating heavy commercial vehicles.

USDOT has ordered Pennsylvania to take three immediate corrective actions or risk losing highway and safety funding:

1. Suspend issuance, renewal, transfer, or upgrades of non-domiciled CDLs and commercial learner’s permits.

2. Conduct a full internal audit to identify all improperly issued licenses.

3. Void or rescind all non-compliant CDLs and remove unauthorized drivers from U.S. roadways.

“This Department is taking every measure to ensure dangerous foreign drivers aren’t illegally operating 40-ton vehicles on American roads,” Duffy said, noting systemic verification failures in multiple states.

A Broader Policy Shift

The enforcement push follows a series of Trump-era policy changes, including:

• stricter CDL eligibility rules,

• expanded audits of non-domiciled drivers,

• enforcement of English-proficiency requirements,

• and an executive order naming English the official language of the United States.

PennDOT has not issued a public response to the federal ultimatum.