California, Washington, New Mexico face funding cuts over trucker English guidelines

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California, Washington and New Mexico could lose tens of millions of {dollars} in federal funding in the event that they proceed to fail to implement English language necessities for truckers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy introduced Tuesday.

Duffy stated the three states have 30 days to adjust to federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) necessities after an investigation right into a lethal crash in Florida earlier this month revealed the states made vital failures relating to the unlawful immigrant truck driver who made an unlawful U-turn.

"That is about holding individuals secure on the street. Your households, your children, your spouses, your family members, your mates," Duffy stated. "All of us use the roadway, and we have to ensure that those that are driving huge rigs — semis — can perceive the street indicators, that they’ve been well-trained."

Duffy referred to the lethal Aug. 12 crash involving Harjinder Singh , a 28-year-old who officers say hails from India and is within the nation illegally.

FLORIDA AG ANNOUNCES PROBE OF SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS THAT GIVE TRUCKING LICENSES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy introduced formal motion in opposition to three states for failing to implement federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) necessities for business motorcar drivers, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Picture/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Singh was working a business semi-truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce when he allegedly tried a U-turn in an unauthorized space earlier than the trailer jackknifed and collided with a minivan, killing all three of its passengers, in keeping with officers.

Singh was given a CDL check following the crash and failed, in keeping with Duffy.

Harjinder Singh, 28, was arrested after allegedly making an unauthorized U-turn that resulted in a crash that left three individuals useless in Florida on Aug. 12, officers stated. (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Workplace)

Duffy stated Singh acquired his CDL license in California and Washington state earlier than getting pulled over for rushing in New Mexico in July. Duffy stated Singh’s rig was not taken out of service despite the fact that he couldn't communicate English.

Duffy stated the ELP rule went into impact in June, making it in order that truck drivers who weren't proficient in talking English can be taken out of service. He added that California , Washington and New Mexico have hardly enforced the rule.

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Jesse Elison, Federal Motor Service Security Administration chief counsel, stated all three of those states can have 30 days to reply and current a corrective plan or else lose funding.

Federal Motor Service Security Administration chief counsel Jesse Ellison stated the states have 30 days to reply with corrective plans relating to enforcement of the ELP guidelines. (AP Picture/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

California may lose $33 million, whereas Washington and New Mexico may lose $10.5 million and $7 million, respectively, Elison and Duffy stated.

Additional steps might be taken ought to these states fail to conform, in keeping with Duffy, although he declined to elaborate on the specifics.

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"We do not wish to take away cash from states, however we are going to take cash away and we'll take further steps that get progressively tougher for these states," Duffy stated. "There's numerous nice instruments that now we have right here that we do not wish to use."