Thousands of California driver’s licenses face “decertification” unless the state meets certain federal requirements, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has warned.
Why It Matters
It follows California’s decision to revoke approximately 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to immigrants, which generated nationwide attention due to the significant impacts on public safety, the trucking industry and communities relying on these drivers.
Logistics and transportation firm Fremont Contract Carriers reports that more than 130,000 truck drivers operate in California. Only Texas has a larger driver population.
A possible decertification of the state’s CDL program could therefore have a significant knock-on effect on the wider national economy.
What To Know
California’s Governor and the director of its Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) have received a conditional determination notice in correspondence seen by Newsweek.
Gavin Newsom and Steve Gordon were warned that “up to four percent of certain Federal-aid Highway funds” could be withheld, as well as “possible decertification of California’s CDL program” if they did not meet criteria set out by the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The FMCSA has threatened to withhold federal funds and revoke thousands of CDLs if California does not “provide evidence of its corrective action plan.”
Newsweek contacted the DOT via email and the Governor of California’s office via phone for further comment.
California’s DMV notified around 17,000 commercial drivers earlier in November that their CDLs would be canceled within 60 days.
It follows a high-profile accident and increased scrutiny from President Donald Trump’s administration concerning compliance with federal and state licensing regulations for noncitizen drivers.
The action came after a federal audit led by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy identified discrepancies in California’s issuance practices, specifically that CDL expiration dates sometimes extended beyond drivers’ lawful presence in the United States, contrary to state law.
Under new federal requirements as of September 2025, eligibility for commercial driver’s licenses is now confined to holders of H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visas—narrowing qualifying visa categories to temporary agricultural, temporary nonagricultural and certain investment visas only.
These changes are not retroactive but will dramatically reduce the eligible pool for new noncitizen CDL applicants from about 200,000 to 10,000 in California.
State officials and Newsom’s office have argued that the affected drivers originally held valid federal work authorizations and that the move aligns expiration dates with state legal requirements.
However, following federal pressure and an audit, enforcement escalated, and a notification letter was sent on November 6, 2025.
What People Are Saying
Writing to Newsom and Gordon, FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said: “DMV must provide FMCSA evidence of its corrective action plan implementation.
“DMV’s failure to implement, or undue delay in implementing, the required corrective actions will result in FMCSA issuing a Final Determination of Substantial Noncompliance and withholding up to four percent of certain Federal-aid Highway funds as well as possible decertification of California’s CDL program.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said: “After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed. Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesperson, Brandon Richards, said: “Once again, the Sean ‘Road Rules’ Duffy fails to share the truth — spreading easily disproven falsehoods in a sad and desperate attempt to please his dear leader.”
Dave Laut, owner of FBT Incorporated, which stands to lose 50 drivers, told KGET.com: “We are shocked because we just got sudden calls and letters from many drivers saying, ‘Oh, we only have 60 days left.’ … One driver has been on the road for 15 years, driving safely with a good record, and how can we say this driver is no good, it’s unsafe.”
What Happens Next
California is the only state to complete a commercial driver’s license audit. Other states’ reviews, delayed by the 43-day government shutdown, are expected to be released soon.
If California fails to align fully with federal mandates, the DOT has stated it may withhold as much as $160 million in federal highway funds, with a prior $40 million having already been withheld over English language examination requirements for drivers.
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