Watch: California Facing $160M in Withheld Federal Funds Over CDL Issue

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy isn't brooking any more nonsense from 
California and the once-Golden State's Governor Gavin Newsom over the 
issue of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to marginally literate, non-
English-speaking illegal aliens. There have been several high-profile 
accidents caused by these people who never should have been allowed to 
remain in the country at all, much less to be behind the wheel of an 18-
wheeler, and the Secretary has evidently had enough.

In a conversation with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo, Secretary Duffy 
announced that California is about to discover what the "or else" is.


Secretary Duffy said:

Gavin Newsom has thumbed his nose at us. He's refused to comply with the 
rules that have come from DOT, which is, stop issuing these licenses, 
number one, and number two, go back and review all the licenses you have 
issued, and make sure it's been done legally. Gavin Newsom has said no, so 
I'm about to pull $160 million from California, and as we pull more money, 
we also have the option of pulling California's ability to issue 
commercial driver's licenses. Gavin Newsom cares more about illegals 
getting commercial driver's licenses than he does the citizens of his own 
state and the safety of Americans. It's shameful. He's been lying about 
what he's been doing. And again, we're going to fight tooth and nail under 
President Trump's administration to make sure that we hold states like 
California accountable. 

Yanking $160 million in highway funds, yes, would hurt. But Democrats 
shouldn't squawk about this. They have used the threat of federal 
transportation funding for decades to push everything from mandatory seat-
belt laws to the 55-mph speed limit. Sauce for the goose.

The revocation of the state's authority to issue CDLs may hurt even more. 
Assuming any local trucking companies still remain in California, it will 
put a real squeeze on them to find drivers, doubly so if the revocation 
also applies to renewals. The people of California and, indeed, the 
country, would be a lot safer, but Governor Newsom doesn't seem too 
worried about that.

Read More: Update: Sean Duffy Drops 'Bombshell Report' on Newsom, 
Outlining CA's Failures That Led to Deadly Crash

The Secretary also had some sharp words about the Schumer Shutdown and how 
it may affect air travel.


In this segment, the Secretary had this to say:

If I don't feel like I have enough (air traffic) controllers, or enough 
controllers that are focused, we will slow down traffic. We will stop 
traffic. And that's why you see the delays in the system, and the job 
number one is, I can get people to where they're going safely, and if it's 
not on time, well, call the Democrats. Call Chuck Schumer if you're 
frustrated. If we have a staffing shortage, and your flight is three hours 
delayed or your flight is canceled, call Chuck, call Senate Democrats, 
because this is the reason why.

This is liable to happen if the Schumer Shutdown drags on, and we might 
note that in a month, the holiday season starts - with millions of 
Americans taking to the friendly skies, hoping to get where they are 
going, safely and on time.

Read More: Dems Facing Even More Trouble Now With Money and Unhappy Donors

So the Transportation Secretary is about to give California some what-for 
- and Senate Democrats into the bargain. That's all to the good. It's what 
we voted for.

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/10/26/watch-california-facing-160m-in-
withheld-federal-funds-over-cdl-issue-n2195513