US DOT Threatens Funding Cuts to California, Washington, New Mexico Over Trucker English Rule Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Transportation, under President Trump's administration, has warned California, Washington, and New Mexico that they will lose federal funding unless they fully enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers within 30 days. This action follows an FMCSA investigation triggered by a fatal crash in Florida involving a foreign driver who could not speak English and failed to understand road signs, resulting in three deaths. Despite numerous inspections, the three states have shown significant lapses in enforcing the English proficiency rule, with very few drivers disqualified for violations. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy emphasized that states cannot selectively enforce federal safety regulations and highlighted the administration's commitment to closing safety gaps and holding states accountable to protect public safety. The states risk losing millions in federal funds under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if they do not comply, with California facing a potential loss of $33 million alone. These measures are part of a broader effort to improve road safety and regulate non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.