U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy dropped a bombshell on Illinois officials on Wednesday, announcing that a federal audit of the state's non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) turned up a hefty amount of fraud. The audit revealed that nearly 20% of these licenses were issued illegally, a discovery that could cost the state a whopping $128 million in federal highway funding unless corrective action is taken swiftly.
"I need our state partners to understand that they work for the American people, not illegal immigrants who broke the law illegally entering our country and continue to break it by operating massive big rigs without the proper qualifications," Duffy stated, underscoring the administration’s stance on the issue. Illinois has been given 30 days to revoke the illicitly granted licenses and to bring their CDL program into compliance—or else face the financial consequences. This demand comes amid broader efforts by the Trump Administration to prioritize the safety and needs of American families, and particularly American truckers.
Duffy’s communication with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Director of Driver Services Kevin Duesterhaus didn't mince words. The FMCSA demands Illinois to immediately halt the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs while also calling for the identification and revocation of those licenses which do not comply with federal regulations. Moreover, the state is expected to conduct an exhaustive internal audit to pinpoint any procedural lapses or errors that have led to this situation.
The FMCSA's sweep is part of a larger push initiated by President Trump highlighting the risks posed by unqualified drivers on the nation’s highways. FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said, "The last administration looked the other way as states blatantly defied federal laws when unlawfully issuing licenses to foreign drivers. Secretary Duffy and I will be relentless in our agenda to reinstate commonsense safety standards that protect our truckers and American families." This crackdown extends beyond Illinois, as other states such as California, New York, and Pennsylvania have also been spotlighted for compliance failures in the nationwide CDL audit.
Secretary Duffy has also enacted new measures reinforcing English language proficiency for commercial truck operators. Drivers who fail to meet the FMCSA's longstanding English-language proficiency requirements will face out-of-service orders, aligning with a 2025 Executive Order by President Trump making English the official language of the United States. This is just one part of a broader, pro-trucker package aimed at enhancing road safety and trimming bureaucratic red tape for America’s trucking industry.
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