Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced this week that the department would withhold $40 million in funding from California over English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards.
TruckingDive explained that President Donald Trump ordered federal transportation officials to make English proficiency violations an out-of-service criterion this April, shortly after he took office. In May, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shared an enforcement policy regarding how officials are expected to conduct roadside inspections when they suspect a driver lacks English proficiency.
According to the Commercial Carrier Journal, California Highway Patrol stated in July that “it had no intention of following ELP regulations.” Then, the DOT warned California in August that it could lose federal funds for not enforcing the requirements.
“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming,” Duffy said in a Wednesday statement. “California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”
Per the DOT, the approximately $40.6 million being withheld from California is part of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding awarded to the state. This program provides grant funding for states to conduct roadside inspections, traffic enforcement, safety audits of trucking companies, and public education campaigns.
“Let me be clear – this is valuable money that should be going to the great men and women in California law enforcement, who we support. Gov. Newsom’s insistence on obstructing federal law has tied my hands,” said Duffy.
This isn’t the first time California has come into conflict with the second Trump administration. Previously, Trump threatened to withhold disaster relief funding for the state over transgender athletes and over issues related to immigration and the National Guard. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also threatened to withold tax revenue from California.
As rumors regarding Newsom’s potential run as a Democratic candidate for president in 2028 get louder, fighting between the two political figures has continued. Trump has ripped into Newsom in front of foreign dignitaries and Newsom has hinted on social media that he believes the president has dementia, for example.
In a press release issued this week, Newsom criticized federal reductions to “critical services” ahead of California flood season.
“Once again, Donald Trump is putting Californians in harm’s way,” said Newsom. “Let’s be clear, these gaps in critical information needed by emergency responders and reservoir managers put life and property at risk. If inaccurate or incomplete forecasts result in flood-fight material and rescue crews being positioned in the wrong areas, we could see damage and death that could have been prevented.”
In Friday X post, Newsom said “spreading hatred is the only thing the Trump Administration seems to be able to accomplish.” Earlier in the week, he also attacked plans to shut down the I-5 and “shoot out missiles from ships” over the weekend, when “no kings” protests against the Trump administration are planned.
Regarding the recently withheld funding, the DOT said California would have to “adopt and actively enforce a law, regulation, standard, or order that is compatible with the federal ELP requirement for commercial drivers,” to receive it. With that law, “state inspectors would need to begin conducting ELP assessments during roadside inspections and place those who fail out-of-service,” it added.