WASHINGTON (TNND) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will withhold over $40 million from California due to the state not complying with English Language Proficiency standards.
“I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration’s English language requirements or the checks stop coming,” Duffy said in a statement.
“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement,” he continued. “This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road.”
Duffy said that an investigation found that California was not complying with ELP standards and in total, $40,685,225 was going to be withheld.
President Donald Trump earlier this year signed an executive order that required commercial truck drivers to be proficient in English.
“America First means safety first,” Duffy said when the order was signed. “Americans are a lot safer on roads alongside truckers who can understand and interpret our traffic signs. This common-sense change ensures the penalty for failure to comply is more than a slap on the wrist.”
This order came after a previous order that made English the national language of the U.S.
A spokesperson for California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom told The Hill newspaper that Duffy “needs a lesson on his own road rules,” when asked about the withholding of funds.
The spokesperson stated that truck drivers in California have a lower crash rate than the national average.