Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Emergency Action to Restrict Non-Domiciled CDLs

Abby Willroth is a NAADAC-qualified Substance Abuse Professional located in Central Arkansas. "If you have questions pertaining to DOT Alcohol & Drug Testing Regulation, the Role of an SAP or the Return-To-Duty process, ASK A SAP!"

On Friday, 26 September 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced an emergency action that immediately restricts who may qualify for a non-domiciled commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or commercial driver’s license (CDL).

This urgent action follows an ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and several recent fatal crashes involving non-domiciled drivers.

Why This Action Was Taken

The FMCSA audit revealed:

• A pattern of states illegally issuing CDLs to foreign drivers who were not eligible.

• Systemic weaknesses in the current regulatory framework, which can fail even when followed correctly.

The combination of these two issues created what DOT has labeled an “imminent hazard” on America’s highways.

Stricter Rules Effective Immediately

Moving forward, non-citizens will only be eligible for a non-domiciled CDL if they:

**Hold a valid employment-based visa

** Complete a mandatory federal immigration status check through the SAVE system

A one-page summary of the emergency action is available here: FMCSA Fact Sheet

Secretary Duffy’s Statement

“What our team has discovered should disturb and anger every American,” said Secretary Duffy. “Licenses to operate an 80,000-pound truck are being issued illegally to unqualified foreign drivers. This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road, and I will not stand for it. Today’s actions will prevent unsafe foreign drivers from renewing their licenses and hold states accountable to immediately invalidate improperly issued licenses.”

California: The Most Egregious Violations

The audit found widespread problems across multiple states, but California stood out as the worst offender. Findings included:

• More than 25% of non-domiciled CDLs reviewed were improperly issued.

• CDLs granted to drivers whose lawful U.S. presence had already expired.

• Licenses valid for years beyond expiration dates of immigration documents.

• A shocking case where a driver from Brazil was given a CDL with school bus and passenger bus endorsements despite expired legal presence.

  
  

Federal Enforcement Against California

Secretary Duffy announced direct enforcement measures against the state, requiring California to:

1. Immediately pause the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs.

2. Identify all unexpired non-domiciled CDLs that do not meet federal standards.

3. Revoke and reissue CDLs only if they comply with the new rules.

If California fails to comply within 30 days, FMCSA will withhold federal highway funds — beginning with $160 million in year one, doubling in year two.

Other States Impacted

In addition to California, the audit flagged Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington for licensing practices that do not comply with FMCSA regulations.

Since January, at least five fatal crashes have involved non-domiciled CDL holders, further driving the urgency of this emergency rule.

Context and Recent Actions

This announcement follows a series of safety initiatives under the Trump Administration:

• March 2025: President Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

• May 2025: Secretary Duffy strengthened English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial drivers, with out-of-service orders for noncompliance.

• June 2025: DOT launched a nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs and introduced a pro-trucker package to expand parking, reduce red tape, and modernize driver resources.

• September 2025: Emergency restrictions announced on non-domiciled CDLs and enforcement action against California.

  
  

In Summary

The FMCSA audit revealed systemic failures that pose serious risks to public safety. With these emergency actions, Secretary Duffy and DOT are moving aggressively to restore integrity to the CDL system, protect families on America’s highways, and hold states accountable.

As Secretary Duffy emphasized, the stakes could not be higher:

“We owe it to the American people to ensure that only lawful, qualified drivers are operating big rigs on our highways.”

What are your thoughts? Do you believe these emergency restrictions will improve roadway safety, or will they create new challenges for the transportation industry?