Feds Withhold $40.6M From California In Trucker English Crackdown; Non-Citizen CDL Restrictions, Visas Paused

USDOT is withholding $40.6M in transportation funds from California over trucker English-proficiency enforcement, escalating a federal campaign that has also paused worker visas for commercial drivers and tightened CDL rules for non-U.S. citizens. California says it already enforces the standard and notes its CDL holders have a nearly 40% lower fatal-crash rate than the national average. The funds cover inspections, traffic enforcement, carrier audits, and safety outreach. California has 30 days to comply before larger highway funding cuts begin.