Hold onto your steering wheels, folks—Washington is slamming the brakes on New York’s reckless handling of commercial driver’s licenses.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a bold offensive against the state, uncovering a staggering mess in how non-domiciled licenses are handed out, as News Nation Now reports.
Since early 2025, the Trump administration has been tightening the reins on who gets to drive big rigs on American highways. In August 2025, warnings were issued to states like California, Washington, and New Mexico over lax enforcement of English proficiency rules for truckers. Federal guidelines are crystal clear: drivers must pass roadside English tests and prove they can communicate effectively, though states are tasked with enforcement.
Fast forward to a nationwide audit, and New York emerges as the worst culprit in the country. A jaw-dropping 53% of its non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses were found to be issued in violation of federal law.
What’s the problem? The state has been doling out eight-year licenses to applicants with work permits as short as 30 days, flouting legal standards with apparent disregard.
Worse yet, officials often skip verifying whether applicants have valid work authorizations or legal status in the country. It’s a bureaucratic blind spot that could jeopardize road safety.
By September 2025, the Department of Transportation rolled out emergency measures to curb eligibility for non-domiciled learner’s permits and licenses. This came on the heels of tragic crashes involving drivers from outside the U.S.
Then, in November 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dropped another bombshell: federal agents arrested nearly 150 truck drivers suspected of residing in the U.S. without authorization. Most of these busts happened in northwest Indiana during a joint operation that netted 223 arrests total.
Back to New York, the feds aren’t playing games. The state has just 30 days to align with longstanding federal regulations or face severe consequences.
Fail to comply, and New York could lose tens of millions in federal funding as an initial penalty. It’s a hefty price tag for clinging to questionable policies.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy didn’t mince words on the issue. “If an applicant comes in and they have a work authorization for 30 days, 60 days, one year, New York automatically issues them an eight-year commercial driver’s license. That’s contrary to the law,” Duffy said.
Let’s unpack that: issuing long-term licenses to folks with temporary permissions isn’t just a paperwork glitch—it’s a direct challenge to federal oversight. If safety rules are treated as optional, who pays the price on our highways?
Duffy doubled down with another pointed critique. “States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow. When states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger,” he warned.
That’s the heart of the matter—state autonomy shouldn’t override the basic need to keep roads safe. When policies seem more about political posturing than protecting citizens, it’s time for accountability, not excuses.
New York’s crossroads moment is here: comply with federal standards or risk financial fallout. While some may cry foul over Washington’s heavy hand, the data speaks louder than ideology—safety isn’t negotiable. Let’s hope the state chooses wisely before the 30-day clock runs out.
