Trump Administration Gives Blue States 30 Days to Enforce Truckers’ English Rule Or Lose Federal Funds
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has given California, Washington, and New Mexico 30 days to comply with federal English proficiency requirements for truck drivers or lose millions in federal highway funding—$30 million for California, $10 million for Washington, and $7 million for New Mexico.
“We have a whole bunch of equities to play with states that don’t comply with this law, because this is a safety issue. If you can’t understand the road signs and you can’t speak English, and you’re driving an 80,000-pound rig, you’re a danger to everyone around you on the road.”
The numbers reveal a staggering dereliction of duty. Since the English proficiency rules took effect in June, California conducted 34,000 inspections that found violations—but pulled exactly one driver off the road for language issues. One. That’s not incompetence—that’s intentional. Meanwhile, 23 drivers with violations in other states were waved through California inspections and allowed to keep driving. Washington found over 6,000 safety violations but only removed four drivers for English deficiency. New Mexico? Zero drivers removed despite multiple violations.
“We have a whole bunch of equities to play with states that don’t comply with this law, because this is a safety issue. If you can’t understand the road signs and you can’t speak English, and you’re driving an 80,000-pound rig, you’re a danger to everyone around you on the road.”
The numbers reveal a staggering dereliction of duty. Since the English proficiency rules took effect in June, California conducted 34,000 inspections that found violations—but pulled exactly one driver off the road for language issues. One. That’s not incompetence—that’s intentional. Meanwhile, 23 drivers with violations in other states were waved through California inspections and allowed to keep driving. Washington found over 6,000 safety violations but only removed four drivers for English deficiency. New Mexico? Zero drivers removed despite multiple violations.
70-79, M
