In brief
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has escalated scrutiny on Pennsylvania's issuance of commercial driver's licenses to immigrants, citing concerns over legality. The Pennsylvania government faces a funding threat unless it complies. The controversy arises after a fatal accident in Florida linked to an unauthorized driver, prompting audits and calls for compliance with federal guidelines.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has issued a stern ultimatum to Pennsylvania, threatening to withdraw $75 million in funding unless the state revokes what officials claim are improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to certain immigrants.
This directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mirrors previous measures taken against California, both states governed by Democratic leaders who are critical of President Trump and garner attention as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
Duffy has intensified scrutiny over how these licenses are being issued since August, following a tragic incident in Florida where a truck driver, unauthorized to be in the U.S., caused an accident that claimed three lives.
Uncertainty surrounds how many individuals in Pennsylvania may be impacted by this sweeping directive. A letter sent to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro indicated a federal audit that found two out of 150 licenses had been granted to individuals exceeding their lawful presence in the nation.
In addition to halting new applications, the administration is asking Pennsylvania to conduct an audit of all licenses and revoke those that do not comply with federal regulations, risking removal of these drivers from the roads.
The controversy has ignited heated discussions, especially as both Governor Shapiro and California Governor Gavin Newsom have emerged as frequent targets of the Trump administration's policies.
Shapiro’s administration has informed the public that it ceased the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens following new federal guidelines which significantly limit who qualifies for such licenses.
A recent federal court ruling has temporarily paused these restrictive rules, but Shapiro’s team has highlighted that the state’s transportation department has yet to resume issuing licenses known as “non-domiciled CDLs.”
In a notable incident, Shapiro criticized the Department of Homeland Security for allegedly failing to maintain an accurate database used to verify immigrants’ statuses prior to issuing licenses. This concern was exacerbated by the arrest of an Uzbek national in Pennsylvania, who had previously obtained a commercial license but was later found to be wanted for terrorism-related activities.
Despite the controversy, Shapiro defended his department’s actions, confirming that checks were made against the federal database before the license was issued, and the individual was authorized at the time. The discrepancies pointed to broader issues regarding the management of the federal databases that numerous states rely on to determine eligibility for driver’s licenses.
Shapiro emphasized the importance of accurate oversight from federal authorities, stating, They clearly are not minding the shop, and they’ve gotta get better, referring to the reliance on DHS data for making such significant determinations.
