WASHINGTON \u2014 Federal regulators are threatening to withhold up to $151 million in transportation funding earmarked for Pennsylvania if the state fails to correct errors related to the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver\u2019s licenses.<\/p>\n
In a letter<\/a> sent to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Michael Carroll on Wednesday, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Derek Barrs wrote that a recent audit of the state\u2019s CDL program uncovered eight non-domiciled CDLs issued by Pennsylvania that failed to comply with federal regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an unacceptable deviation from FMCSA\u2019s regulations when issuing credentials to operate commercial motor vehicles,\u201d Barrs stated in the letter.<\/p>\n \u201cPennDOT must take immediate corrective action to audit its non-domiciled CDL program, correct the deficiencies that FMCSA identified \u2026 and any deficiencies identified through the State\u2019s internal audit, and void or rescind and reissue all non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs that failed to comply with federal regulations at the time of issuance, renewal, transfer, or upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n If the state fails to make the changes, Barrs warned that his agency may withhold up to $75.5 million in transportation funding apportioned to Pennsylvania for fiscal year 2027, and up to $151 million in subsequent fiscal years of noncompliance.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, if FMCSA issues a final determination of substantial noncompliance, the agency may decertify Pennsylvania\u2019s CDL program,\u201d Barrs asserted.<\/p>\n \u201cDecertification \u2026 would prohibit the state from issuing, renewing, transferring, or upgrading CLPs and CDLs until such time as FMCSA determines that PennDOT is in substantial compliance\u201d with federal regulations, he noted. Barrs gave the state 30 days to respond.<\/p>\n In announcing FMCSA\u2019s action on Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited the recent arrest of a suspected terrorist<\/a> who has been in the U.S. illegally \u2013 and who issued a license in Pennsylvania \u2013 to emphasize the importance of non-domiciled CDL audits.<\/p>\n