DOT Crackdown Forces California To Revoke 17,000 Noncitizen CDLs After Audit; $40M Withheld

California will revoke about 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens following a U.S. DOT audit, as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy withholds $40 million and threatens more cuts. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the revocations reflect state law violations, not immigration status, and notes the drivers had federal work authorization. New federal rules now sharply restrict which visa holders can obtain CDLs and require status verification, signaling possible nationwide impacts as audits in other states proceed.