LDN. 🚛 “No English, No Millions”: Duffy Blocks $40M From California Over Truckers’ Language Rule. LDN
In a bold move that’s sending shockwaves across the trucking industry, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that he is withholding more than $40 million in federal funds from the state of California — accusing Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration of defying federal law by refusing to enforce English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards for commercial truck drivers.
The decision marks one of the toughest actions yet taken by the Department of Transportation under President Donald Trump’s reinstated trucking reform plan, which seeks to “restore order and safety” on American highways.
A Warning Ignored
Back in August, Duffy had issued a formal warning to California, Washington, and New Mexico, cautioning that they risked losing critical Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funds unless they complied with the ELP requirement.
“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big-rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement,” Duffy said in a statement Wednesday. “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s roads.”
The $40.6 million in frozen MCSAP funding would normally be used to support roadside inspections, traffic enforcement, trucking safety audits, and public education campaigns. Duffy insisted the money was meant to aid California’s law enforcement — not punish them.
“Let me be clear — this is valuable money that should be going to the great men and women in California law enforcement, who we support,” Duffy said. “Gov. Newsom’s insistence on obstructing federal law has tied my hands.”
The Federal Crackdown
The Transportation Department has been conducting a nationwide audit on how states issue commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) — particularly to individuals on short-term work visas or non-legal status.
This is part of a broader safety initiative led by the Trump administration to tighten licensing oversight and ensure all truck drivers operating on U.S. highways can safely read and communicate in English.
The effort gained momentum after a deadly crash in Florida last August, which killed three people. The driver, Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from India, allegedly received both a work permit and a commercial driver’s license in California — despite his immigration status.
The tragedy ignited a political firestorm and renewed scrutiny over states like California, which issue driver’s licenses to residents regardless of immigration status. Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia follow this practice.
Trump’s Executive Order and the Return of the English Rule
In May, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the English proficiency rule as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s out-of-service criteria. The order also directed federal agencies to investigate states that issue CDLs to foreign citizens and to reduce regulatory burdens on American truckers.
By June 25, the English requirement officially returned to federal enforcement. All states were expected to comply by conducting language assessments during roadside inspections and placing noncompliant drivers out of service.
However, California Highway Patrol reportedly stated in August that it would not enforce the rule — arguing that English proficiency is not codified in state law.
That stance, Duffy said, directly violates federal safety standards.
The Cost of Defiance
California’s refusal to implement the federal ELP rule comes with a steep price. The $40.6 million withheld is part of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, which plays a vital role in ensuring safe freight operations across the country.
The funding freeze not only affects law enforcement budgets but could also disrupt inspection schedules, data collection, and commercial vehicle safety campaigns statewide.
For Duffy, however, the issue is not about punishment — it’s about principle.
“This is about accountability,” he said. “If a trucker can’t read an emergency sign, if they can’t communicate with police during a crash, they’re putting lives at risk. That’s not negotiable.”
The Broader Political Battle
The standoff between the Transportation Department and California adds yet another chapter to the ongoing feud between Governor Newsom and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and state sovereignty.
Newsom has repeatedly positioned California as a “sanctuary state,” extending legal protections and benefits to undocumented residents. But federal officials argue that such policies compromise national safety standards, especially in sectors like trucking where communication can be a matter of life and death.
Behind the scenes, political analysts see the funding freeze as part of a larger ideological clash between the Biden-era federal agencies that relaxed certain enforcement standards — and Trump-era leaders now reinstating stricter oversight in the name of “law and order.”
Safety vs. Politics
While California officials have not yet issued an official response, critics say the state’s defiance could endanger public safety. Others, however, accuse Duffy and the Trump administration of using the issue as a political weapon to target blue states and immigrant-heavy workforces.
Immigration advocacy groups argue that the ELP rule could unfairly penalize non-native English speakers, many of whom perform essential roles in the nation’s supply chain.
But Duffy’s team maintains that safety standards must be consistent across all 50 states.
“We’re not telling people what language to speak at home,” one senior DOT official said. “We’re saying: if you’re operating a 40-ton vehicle at 70 miles an hour on an American highway, you must understand the signs that keep everyone alive.”
The Road Ahead
For now, California’s path forward is clear but narrow. The Transportation Department says the state can restore its lost funding only by adopting and actively enforcing a measure consistent with the federal ELP rule.
That means roadside inspectors must test drivers’ English skills and remove noncompliant truckers from service immediately.
Until then, California stands to lose millions — and possibly more federal cooperation — in the months to come.
As the debate over language, safety, and state authority continues, one thing is certain: the road ahead for California’s trucking industry is about to get even bumpier.
