Harrisburg, PA — The Trump administration is pressuring Pennsylvania to revoke commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants, warning the state it could lose nearly $75 million in federal funding if it does not comply. The action follows similar pressure on California and stems from a broader federal review launched after an August crash in Florida, where a noncitizen truck driver made an illegal U-turn that killed three people.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has ordered Pennsylvania to halt issuance, renewal, and transfer of commercial licenses to noncitizens and conduct a statewide audit to identify licenses that exceed the holder’s lawful U.S. stay. Federal officials say approximately 12,400 noncitizen drivers currently hold unexpired commercial learner’s permits or commercial driver’s licenses issued by the state.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration disputes the federal claims, stating no ineligible commercial licenses have been identified. Officials say the state follows federal rules by checking the Department of Homeland Security’s database to verify lawful presence. Shapiro has argued DHS itself failed to maintain accurate records, pointing to a recent arrest of an Uzbek national whose CDL was issued only after DHS confirmed his eligibility.
The rule that restricts which immigrants may obtain commercial licenses, introduced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is currently on hold by a federal court. Pennsylvania says it suspended issuance of non-domiciled CDLs after the rule was published and has not resumed.
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