(WWJ) Following a push by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a multi-state coalition, a federal court has blocked the Trump administration from accessing sensitive personal data for 17 million commercial drivers.
A judge has granted a temporary restraining order stopping the Trump administration from demanding access to a massive state-owned database. The order also stops the federal government from pulling over $10 million in funding from the private non-profit that runs the system if it refuses to hand over the records.
Nessel praised the quick court ruling, saying the federal government's move was an illegal attempt to take driver data that would have hurt both resident privacy and the local economy.
The legal win comes after Nessel and a coalition of 21 attorneys general filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. The states argue federal agencies secretly tried to build their own database using state records, failing to notify the public or set up safety guardrails to protect Social Security numbers. The suits also claim federal officials broke the law by failing to consult state leaders before demanding the change.
“The federal government’s unlawful attempt to commandeer the personal data of CDL drivers would have been detrimental to the privacy of Michigan residents and our overall economy,” said Nessel, in a statement. “I am relieved that the Court acted quickly to halt this illegal demand as our lawsuit proceeds, where I will continue to defend the sensitive information of Michiganders.”
The system in question, known as the Commercial Driver’s License Information System, was created by Congress in 1986 to help states share driver information and track commercial licenses.
When drivers apply for a commercial license, states verify their identity, medical fitness, immigration status, and driving history. Once approved, sensitive details like names, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and Social Security numbers are logged into the system.
With the temporary hold now in place, Nessel and the other state leaders plan to ask the court for a preliminary injunction to keep the federal government from taking the data while the lawsuit plays out in court.
