Transportation secretary says he will pull $160M from California over noncitizen truck licenses

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that he is about make good on a threat to revoke millions in federal funds for California because he says the state is illegally issuing commercial driver's licenses to noncitizens

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that he is about make good on a threat to revoke millions in federal funds for California because he says the state is illegally issuing commercial driver's licenses to noncitizens.

In an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures," Duffy said Gov. Gavin Newsom has refused to comply with Department of Transportation rules that require the state to stop issuing such licenses and review those already issued.

"So, one, I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy said. "And, as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California's ability to issue commercial driver's licenses."

Eva Spiegel, a spokesperson for the California Department of Motor Vehicles, said the Trump administration "has no legitimate basis" to withhold federal highway transportation funds.

"The federal government previously allowed commercial driver's licenses for asylum seekers and refugees and on September 26 announced emergency regulations to cease this practice that went into effect on September 29. California is in compliance with these regulations and will remain in compliance with federal law," Spiegel said via email.