U.S. Withholds $40 Million from California in Trucker English Dispute

The Trump administration is cracking down on California once again this time over the state’s refusal to enforce federal English-language requirements for commercial truck drivers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that the administration will withhold $40 million in federal transportation funding until California complies with safety mandates requiring truckers to speak and read English. The move comes just weeks after an illegal immigrant trucker caused a deadly crash in Florida, killing three people.

“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. “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s roads.”

The driver, Harjinder Singh, entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and was issued a commercial driver’s license by California despite failing an English proficiency test. In August, Singh made an illegal U-turn in Florida, killing three innocent people. He is currently being held without bond on charges of vehicular homicide and immigration violations.

California bureaucrats claim Singh had a work permit at the time, but that doesn’t explain how someone who couldn’t read road signs or follow verbal instructions was licensed to operate a multi-ton vehicle.

Let’s be clear:

• Federal law requires commercial truck drivers to be able to speak and read English well enough to understand traffic signs and communicate with police.

• A Trump executive order specifically mandated that states enforce this requirement as a matter of public safety.

• California has openly defied that mandate, issuing licenses without English testing and allowing potentially dangerous drivers on U.S. roads.

Instead of taking responsibility, California officials attacked Secretary Duffy and played the blame game.

“The facts don't lie, although for the Trump Administration, they seem optional,” snapped a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who tried to deflect by citing general crash statistics not the specific failures that led to three preventable deaths.

It’s the same story every time: California refuses to follow the law, then feigns outrage when held accountable. This is a state that bends over backwards to accommodate illegal immigrants while turning its back on the safety of American citizens.

To restore funding, California must:

• Enforce English language proficiency rules for all commercial drivers.

• Require roadside inspectors to assess English skills.

• Immediately remove any noncompliant drivers from the road.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about common sense and public safety. Americans have a right to expect that truckers navigating highways in 80,000-pound rigs can read a stop sign and respond to a police officer.

The Trump administration is doing what Biden’s government never would: prioritizing American lives over political correctness. If California won’t do the right thing voluntarily, President Trump will make sure they do it by force.

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