Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that the California Department of Motor Vehicles has not extended the deadline for the cancellation of commercial driver’s licenses issued to foreign nationals who do not have legal U.S. status, disputing the delay announced by the department.
The California DMV said the approximately 17,000 licenses that were set to be terminated on Jan. 5 will now last until March 6, but Duffy said the licenses will not receive a 60-day extension and that failure to meet the deadline could result in lost federal funding.
“[California Gov.] Gavin Newsom is lying,” Duffy wrote on X. “The deadline for revoking illegally issued, unvetted foreign truck driver licenses is still January 5.”
CALIFORNIA RESIGNS LEGAL FIGHT TO RECOVER $4 Billion in Federal Funding for Long-Delayed High-Speed Rail Project
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that the California Department of Motor Vehicles has not extended the deadline for revoking thousands of commercial driver’s licenses. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“California has NO ‘extension’ to continue breaking the law and endangering Americans on its roadways,” he continued.
Duffy added: “Miss the deadline, Gavin, and the @USDOT will take action – including cutting nearly $160 million in federal funding.”
The California DMV justified the 60-day delay by saying it needs more time to ensure it is not improperly terminating driver’s licenses for legally eligible drivers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to cut nearly $160 million in federal funding for missing the deadline. (Reuters/Anna Rose Layden / Reuters Photos)
This comes after a class action lawsuit was filed by the Asian Law Caucus, Sikh Coalition and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP on behalf of five affected drivers and the Jakara Movement.
The groups had argued that many of the targeted drivers could actually qualify for their licenses.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS PUSHING A BILL THAT FORCES AIRLINES TO PROVIDE CASH COMPENSATION FOR LONG FLIGHT DELAYS
The California DMV said the approximately 17,000 licenses that were set to be terminated on January 5 will now last until March 6. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Last month, the California DMV sent notices to 17,299 non-domiciled commercial driver’s license holders saying those licenses would be revoked on January 5 after data showed the license expiration dates did not match the driver’s work permit or legal presence documentation.
