On October 15, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will withhold $40 million in federal funds from California. According to Duffy, California is the only state failing to enforce English-language requirements for commercial truck drivers a rule that the DOT sees as a critical safety standard.
The decision follows an investigation triggered by a fatal Florida crash in August. The accident involved a truck driver who reportedly made an illegal U-turn and could not adequately communicate in English. That collision, which claimed lives, exposed what Duffy described as “significant lapses” in how California has implemented the federal English-proficiency mandate a rule that predates the crash.
The Crash, the Rule, and the Licensing Gap
Under federal regulations (49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(2)), a commercial motor vehicle operator must “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports.”
Per Duffy’s account, the driver in the Florida crash should never have been licensed under California’s system, especially in light of his immigration status. Because truckers who cannot satisfy the English proficiency requirement are supposed to be disqualified, the crash has evolved into a highly politicized issue. Duffy and Florida officials have attributed blame to states (notably California and Washington) that issued the driver’s license.
“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. This is a fundamental safety issue affecting every driver on our roads,” Duffy said in his statement.
California’s Defense & the DOT’s Pushback
In response to DOT’s announcement, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office was swift to counter. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson, pointed to data indicating that California’s commercial vehicle crash rate is lower than the national average.
In parallel, California submitted a formal eight-page response on September 25, asserting that the state already enforces English proficiency standards and that its licensing processes require English testing (including written, skills, and road tests) conducted without translators or aides.
Alicia Fowler, general counsel for the California State Transportation Agency, challenged the DOT’s interpretation of enforcement during roadside inspections. She emphasized that no federal regulation currently mandates English aptitude testing at the roadside and therefore, California cannot be compelled to administer them.
She cited 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(2) and the DOT’s own guidelines, noting that federal rules have not been amended to require English testing during on-the-spot inspections. Meanwhile, DOT insists California must revise its rules and train inspectors to conduct English proficiency assessments in the field and remove drivers from service if they cannot comply.
Conditions for Reinstating Funding & Further Threats
To restore the withheld funds, California must enact regulations compatible with federal English proficiency standards and actively enforce them during inspections i.e., inspectors must test drivers’ English skills and immediately take out-of-service orders for failures.
Beyond this dispute, Duffy also threatened to withhold an additional $160 million due to California’s methods of issuing commercial driver licenses. Just last month, Duffy significantly tightened who is eligible to obtain such licenses.
The Florida Crash & Its Fallout
The crash that triggered this political firestorm happened when trucker Harjinder Singh executed an illegal U-turn on a highway about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach, causing a minivan to ram into his trailer. Three people died. Singh and his passenger remained unharmed.
He now faces charges including vehicular homicide and immigration violations and is being held without bond.
The case has drawn intense scrutiny because investigators claimed Singh failed an English proficiency test following the crash and non-federal officials, including Duffy and Florida’s governor, directly blamed California (and Washington) for licensing him improperly.
California counters that Singh held a valid work permit when licensed and has shown evidence (from a traffic stop in New Mexico) that he was able to converse with officers.
The clash has ignited a public and political feud among Duffy, President Trump, Gov. DeSantis of Florida, and Gov. Newsom of California each trading accusations over who is responsible and whether Singh should ever have been behind the wheel.
California insists it followed all legal protocol in granting Singh’s license in July 2024, and at that time federal authorities confirmed his legal status. Duffy and Florida have alleged, however, that Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.
