Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of violating federal commercial licensing rules, alleging that allowing an illegal immigrant to maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) contributed to a fatal crash. Duffy has threatened to withhold millions in federal highway funds from California, citing the state’s failure to comply with new federal regulations.
The controversy stems from a deadly crash involving a truck driver, Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national, who allegedly caused a multi-car pileup on a Southern California freeway, resulting in three fatalities. According to the Department of Transportation, California violated federal rules by upgrading Singh’s non-domiciled CDL despite an emergency rule and compliance notice issued on September 26. Duffy claims that if California had adhered to the federal guidelines, Singh would not have been on the road, potentially saving three lives.
Newsom’s office has criticized Duffy’s stance, calling the crash ‘tragic’ and accusing the Trump administration of attempting to score political points. Newsom’s press office stated that the federal government approved and renewed Singh’s employment authorization, allowing him to obtain a commercial driver’s license in accordance with federal law. The California Transportation Agency also clarified that it does not determine commercial driver’s license eligibility, emphasizing that the federal government is responsible for approving such documents.
The dispute highlights a broader debate over federal and state authority in regulating non-citizens’ access to professional licenses. Duffy insists that the federal government sets the guidelines, while California maintains that its own regulations are consistent with federal law. The Department of Transportation has initiated a federal review of how non-citizens acquire state-issued licenses, a process that may have broader implications for immigration and transportation policy in the United States.