Three States Could Lose Federal Funding For Defying Trump’s Trucking Mandate

President Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down on states that refuse to enforce his new trucking safety mandate—and billions in federal highway funding could be on the line.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that California, New Mexico, and Washington have just 30 days to comply with federal rules requiring commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency—or lose millions in federal funding.

“We are not going to tolerate states that ignore federal trucking regulations,” Duffy said. “Either get in compliance or we’ll start cutting off the money.”

Deadly Crash Sparks Federal Action

The announcement follows a deadly crash on August 12 on the Florida Turnpike involving Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant trucker who allegedly made an illegal U-turn and killed three people. Singh had been licensed by both California and Washington—despite not passing an English proficiency test. New Mexico law enforcement also failed to administer a test when Singh was pulled over in July.

California now risks losing $30 million in federal funding. Washington could lose $10 million, and New Mexico could forfeit $7 million if they fail to comply.

“This Is a Safety Issue”

The policy was enacted at the end of June and gives federal authorities the ability to revoke funding from states that issue commercial driver’s licenses to individuals who can’t speak and read English—a requirement meant to ensure road safety.

“When we rolled out this rule, some in the media said it was ‘mean’ or ‘discriminatory,’” Duffy said. “But it’s not about politics—it’s about safety. These are 80,000-pound rigs barreling down our roads. The drivers must be able to understand the language.”

Widespread Violations Uncovered

According to a federal investigation:

• California allowed 23 drivers with documented English violations to stay on the road.

• Washington allowed six.

• New Mexico permitted seven.

All of them violated either state or federal standards for English proficiency between late June and late August.

Visa Freeze Announced

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also took action, pausing the issuance of commercial trucking work visas for foreign nationals. The move is intended to force states and companies to comply with federal safety guidelines and prioritize qualified domestic drivers.

Trump Administration Sends a Clear Message

With federal pressure mounting, the Trump administration is making it clear: states that ignore safety rules will pay the price.

“Truckers operating across America’s highways must be able to read road signs, communicate with law enforcement, and understand safety protocols,” Duffy said. “This isn’t optional—it’s federal law.”

Whether California, New Mexico, and Washington will fall in line remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: under Trump, noncompliance has consequences.