DOT Threatens California, Washington, New Mexico Funding Over Truckers’ English Rules

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a 30-day ultimatum to California, New Mexico, and Washington to enforce English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers or face the withholding of up to 100% of their federal funding under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. This enforcement action follows a deadly crash in Florida involving a commercial truck driver, Harjinder Singh, who failed an English proficiency test and is charged with vehicular manslaughter. President Trump’s administration has prioritized this policy, having designated English as the official language and signed an executive order mandating English proficiency for commercial drivers earlier in the year. Duffy criticized the three states for failing to comply with federal safety rules and noted that California has publicly stated it does not intend to follow the regulation. The Department of Transportation highlighted multiple violations and significant enforcement failures by these states, prompting a nationwide audit of commercial driver licensing practices. These measures aim to close safety gaps and ensure that all commercial drivers operating large vehicles in the U.S. can understand road signs and communicate effectively to protect public safety.