USDOT Threatens $50.5 Million in Funding Cuts to California, Washington, New Mexico Over Trucker English Proficiency Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced it is taking action against Washington, California, and New Mexico for failing to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers. Secretary Sean Duffy stated that these states have not adequately enforced the regulations, putting public safety at risk. The non-compliance could result in the loss of millions in federal funding for these states. This federal action follows new guidelines signed by Secretary Duffy on May 20, 2025, which strengthened English language enforcement for commercial truck operators. These guidelines, in line with an April 2025 Executive Order, mandate that commercial drivers found non-compliant with English proficiency standards will be placed out-of-service (OOS) starting June 25, 2025. This policy reverses a 2016 Obama-era guidance that had previously softened enforcement. An FMCSA probe revealed significant discrepancies in enforcement by the three states. California, despite conducting approximately 34,000 inspections that found at least one violation, recorded only one driver placed OOS for English language proficiency issues. Similarly, Washington identified over 6,000 safety violations but placed only four drivers OOS for ELP, while New Mexico reported no OOS orders for ELP violations since the new rules took effect. The USDOT has threatened to withhold federal funding under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program unless the states achieve full compliance within 30 days. California stands to lose $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million, totaling $50.5 million in potential cuts. The stricter enforcement and accountability measures are driven by a focus on highway safety. The USDOT cited instances where a lack of English proficiency has been linked to severe accidents, including a fatal crash in Florida in August 2025 involving a driver who allegedly could not speak English. Secretary Duffy emphasized the critical need for commercial drivers to understand traffic signs and communicate effectively with authorities. > "States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow," Secretary Sean Duffy stated. "As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger. Under President Trump's leadership, we are taking aggressive action to close these safety gaps, hold states accountable, and make sure every commercial driver on the road is qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle." The federal government's firm stance signals a significant shift in regulatory oversight for the trucking industry. Motor carriers are now urged to ensure their drivers meet the updated English proficiency standards to avoid OOS orders and operational disruptions. This move underscores the administration's commitment to consistent, nationwide enforcement of driver qualification standards.