Trump Administration Threatens $75 Million Cut to Pennsylvania Over Immigrant Driver Licenses

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold nearly $75 million in federal funding from Pennsylvania. This action targets the state’s issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants. The move escalates a political conflict with the Democratic-led state.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initiated the threat. According to Reuters, this follows a similar recent action against California. Both states have Democratic governors who are frequent critics of the administration.

Federal Scrutiny Intensifies Following Tragic Incident

Secretary Duffy has prioritized license scrutiny since a fatal August crash in Florida. A tractor-trailer driver not authorized to be in the U.S. caused an accident that killed three people. This incident brought the licensing issue into public focus.

The administration’s audit of Pennsylvania found two problematic licenses out of 150 reviewed. These licenses reportedly exceeded the driver’s lawful presence in the country. The federal demand requires Pennsylvania to pause all new, renewed, and transferred commercial licenses.

Pennsylvania must also conduct a full audit and void noncompliant licenses. The state would need to remove those drivers from the road immediately. The financial penalty represents a significant lever in this enforcement effort.

Political Standoff Deepens Over Federal Database Reliability

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has defended the state’s actions. He argues the state relies on federal databases to verify immigrant status. Shapiro claims the Department of Homeland Security is failing to maintain this critical system properly.

His comments followed the arrest of an Uzbek national with a Pennsylvania-issued commercial license. The man was wanted in his home country for alleged terrorist ties. Shapiro stated the federal database still listed the man as qualified for a license this week.

The state’s transportation department had already stopped issuing these licenses to noncitizens. This pause followed a new federal regulation in late September. A federal court has currently put that new rule on hold.

The $75 million funding threat underscores a major clash between federal and state authorities. This dispute over immigrant truck drivers has significant safety and political implications. The outcome could set a precedent for other states facing similar federal pressure.

Thought you’d like to know

Why is the Trump administration targeting Pennsylvania?

The administration claims Pennsylvania illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants. It is using funding as leverage to force compliance with federal rules. This follows a similar action against California.

How many drivers are affected by this dispute?

A federal audit found two problematic licenses out of 150 reviewed. The exact total number of potentially affected drivers across Pennsylvania remains unclear from available data.

What must Pennsylvania do to avoid losing funds?

The state must pause all new commercial license issuance. It must also audit existing licenses and void any that do not comply. Finally, it must remove noncompliant drivers from the road.

Has Pennsylvania changed its license policy recently?

Yes. The state stopped issuing commercial licenses to noncitizens after a new federal regulation in September. This pause remains in effect despite a court putting the federal rule on hold.

What role does the federal database play?

States use a federal database to check an immigrant’s legal status before issuing licenses. Governor Shapiro claims this system is not properly maintained, leading to potential errors.