$160 Million Funding Threat—State on the Brink

Truck driving on rural highway near river and mountains

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy delivered a stark ultimatum to California: enforce English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers or forfeit nearly $160 million in federal highway funding—a sum that could double next year if the state continues its defiance.

Story Snapshot

California, Washington, and New Mexico face immediate suspension of federal highway funds for failing to enforce English Language Proficiency standards for commercial drivers
California stands to lose $160 million in the first year alone, with penalties doubling in year two if noncompliance continues
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audits revealed these states conducted thousands of inspections without a single enforcement action for English proficiency violations
The crackdown follows at least five fatal crashes involving non-domiciled commercial driver’s license holders since January 2025
States have been given a 30-day deadline to demonstrate compliance or face funding cuts that could cripple infrastructure projects

Federal Enforcement Action Targets State Negligence

Secretary Duffy announced in August 2025 that three states received formal Notices of Proposed Determination of Nonconformity for systematically ignoring federal English Language Proficiency requirements. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted extensive audits revealing that California, Washington, and New Mexico performed thousands of commercial vehicle inspections without enforcing language standards that have been on the books for decades. California’s situation proved particularly egregious, prompting Duffy to call the state’s approach “reckless disregard” and “frankly disgusting.” The federal government’s decision to use highway funding as leverage represents one of the most significant enforcement actions in recent memory, signaling the Trump administration’s commitment to uniform safety standards across all states.

Safety Crisis Drives Policy Overhaul

The enforcement action emerged from a troubling pattern of fatal accidents involving drivers who should never have been licensed. Since January 2025, at least five deadly crashes occurred with non-domiciled CDL holders at the wheel—drivers who obtained licenses in states where they don’t reside, often exploiting lax enforcement. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s nationwide audit uncovered systematic failures in state licensing practices, particularly regarding English proficiency verification. Federal regulations require commercial drivers to read, speak, and understand English sufficiently to communicate with law enforcement and the public, recognize traffic signs, and respond to official inquiries. This requirement exists because effective communication during roadside inspections, emergency situations, and daily operations directly impacts public safety on America’s highways.

California Faces Largest Financial Consequences

The Golden State faces the steepest financial penalty due to both the severity of its noncompliance and the size of its federal highway allocation. California’s first-year loss of nearly $160 million would deal a significant blow to transportation infrastructure projects across the state. If California fails to comply within the prescribed timeframe, the penalty escalates dramatically, doubling to approximately $320 million in the second year. These funds typically support critical highway maintenance, safety improvements, and infrastructure upgrades that California’s extensive road network desperately needs. The state now faces a choice: enforce federal safety standards or absorb substantial budget shortfalls that would force difficult decisions about which projects to delay or cancel entirely.

Trump Administration’s Broader Regulatory Framework

This enforcement action fits within a comprehensive regulatory overhaul initiated by President Trump in March 2025, when he signed an executive order designating English as the official language for federal purposes. Secretary Duffy followed with new English Language Proficiency enforcement guidelines in May 2025, establishing clear expectations for state compliance. In June 2025, the Department of Transportation unveiled a pro-trucker package alongside the nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDL issuance practices. These coordinated actions reflect the administration’s determination to restore federal regulatory authority and ensure states implement safety standards uniformly rather than selectively. The approach demonstrates how federal funding serves as a powerful mechanism to compel state cooperation when voluntary compliance fails.

The 30-day compliance window creates immediate pressure on state transportation agencies to overhaul their licensing and enforcement procedures. State officials must now choose between preserving federal funding relationships or maintaining policies that federal auditors determined compromise highway safety. The outcome will establish important precedent for federal-state regulatory disputes and could trigger similar enforcement actions in other transportation safety areas where state implementation has been inconsistent. Industry observers note that while uniform safety standards benefit the trucking sector overall, states may face significant administrative costs and logistical challenges in rapidly implementing stricter enforcement protocols their systems weren’t designed to handle.