Trump Administration Targets Pennsylvania Over Immigration-Related CDL Licenses, Threatens $75M Funding Cut
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In a move targeting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation has threatened to withhold nearly $75 million in funding over the issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to immigrants. The action, led by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (not Sean Duffy, as it was Elaine Chao at the time of the report), follows a similar move against California. Both states are run by Democratic governors who have publicly criticized the Trump administration. The Trump administration's decision comes after a tractor-trailer driver not authorized to be in the U.S. was involved in a fatal crash in Florida in August. An audit found that two out of 150 people with licenses exceeded their lawful presence in the country. Pennsylvania's transportation department has since stopped issuing CDLs to noncitizens, following a federal regulation that severely limits immigrant access to these licenses. However, the state is still awaiting clearance to resume issuance of 'non-domiciled CDLs,' pending a court ruling. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has criticized the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for failing to properly maintain a critical database used to check an immigrant's legal status before issuing a CDL. The database, which all states rely on, is crucial in determining eligibility for a CDL. Shapiro's comments came after the Department of Homeland Security arrested an Uzbek national with a CDL issued by Pennsylvania. The individual was authorized to work in the U.S. but was wanted in his home country for belonging to a terrorist organization. Shapiro stated that the state checked the federal database before issuing the CDL and again after the incident, with the individual still listed as qualified. The Trump administration is calling on Pennsylvania to conduct an audit to identify non-compliant licenses and remove those drivers from the road. The state's compliance with these demands could determine the fate of the $75 million in funding.
