In a bold move, the Trump administration is pressuring Pennsylvania to revoke nearly $75 million in funding if the state does not immediately invalidate what officials claim are illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants. This ultimatum comes from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has embarked on a campaign to scrutinize the issuance of these licenses after a tragic accident involving an unauthorized driver in Florida.
Duffy's actions follow similar threats to California, both states governed by Democrats who have been vocal critics of Trump's tenure. The TSA has expressed serious concerns regarding driver safety, especially highlighted by a recent crash that resulted in three fatalities.
Following these developments, Pennsylvania officials have decided to put a hold on the issuance of new, renewed, and transferred commercial drivers' licenses to reassess compliance. Shapiro’s administration stated that they ceased granting these licenses to noncitizens following new federal guidelines from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
As tension grows between the federal government and certain states over immigration policies, Shapiro pointed out significant flaws in the Department of Homeland Security’s database that states rely on to verify legal statuses, expressing concern for the accuracy of records. The ongoing clash emphasizes the contentious landscape regarding state-federal interactions on immigration and public safety.
