Transportation Department threatens $73M for New York's highways over commercial driver's licenses

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Sat Dec 13, 2025, 04:03 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Hill

12/12/25 3:19 PM ET


ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The federal government ordered New York to stop granting trucking licenses to foreign drivers or lose millions of dollars in highway aid. Transportation officials said their review found that the state is likelier to break the law than to follow it when issuing “non-domiciled” commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

Non-domiciled CDLs are special permits for those who live in other countries or have temporary legal status in the U.S. and drive large trucks for work within New York.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the enforcement action during a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday. He said that the state didn’t do enough verification before issuing licenses to foreigners.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said they checked 200 records from New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles, finding that the state issued 107 CDLs that violated U.S. law. That 53 percent error rate could be worth $73 million in revoked federal funding. “When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy said. “If they refuse to follow the law, we will withhold federal highway funding.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/5646756-transportation-department-duffy-new-york-cdls-truck-drivers/

[msongs]

1. glad to know red states are violating any of these regs nt

[MadameButterfly]

2. do you mean aren't?

[mpcamb]

9. In all likelihood any foreign trucker in NY State is from Canada.

It appears to be a way to antagonize a Blue State while pretending to be evenhanded.
They're trump appointees.
They're never evenhanded.

[Farmer-Rick]

3. Well first off Duffy's a liar

And second, never ever believe anything from this administration. It is always a lie.

I doubt they looked at anything cause they fired too many people to have done that so quickly. Sounds like a made up statistic trying to distract and harass normal people.

[travelingthrulife]

4. I would definitely prefer undocumented workers be licensed to drive.

You want unlicensed drivers on the road Sean? You expect the farmers hiring them to just drop everything if they need a ride to an appointment? They need to get to work too.

What is wrong with you Sean?

[Farmer-Rick]

7. You are arguing a straw man

No one ever mentioned unlicensed. And that second sentence makes absolutely no sense. Most farmers live in rural areas and there ain't anyone coming to pick them up for an appointment. Not even a Uber driver.

You even gave your straw man a name......Sean.

How much more hilarious can you get?

[oldmanlynn]

5. How many transportation department members will we have to get rid of for being Maga crazies?

How many of these mega crazies will we have to get out of the government when a new Democratic president comes in

[Nigrum Cattus]

6. New York should put a toll on every federal vehicle

that enters to make up for the loss of money.

[azureblue]

8. or with hold

any money NY sends to the federal government, to compensate. Maybe stop letting federal plated vehicles into NYC, until they pay a licensing fee of, say, $20K per vehicle...

[riversedge]

10. New York State officials disagreed, saying the state follows all rules and checks every driver against federal databases

Looks like the Feds will have to be reviewed also!!


..............

New York State officials disagreed, saying the state follows all rules and checks every driver against federal databases when issuing CDLs. Walter McClure from the DMV defended New York’s process.

“Duffy is lying about New York State once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents,” McClure said. “Every CDL we issue is subject to verification of an applicant’s lawful status through federally-issued documents reviewed in accordance with federal regulations.”
Coalitions clash over financial impact of public power in New York

McClure said state officials will review the federal demands and respond. He characterized the federal funding threat as a stunt that won’t makes roads safer..............................

[Renew Deal]

11. Didn't California back off on the same issue?