Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy isn’t brooking any more nonsense from California and the once-Golden State’s Governor Gavin Newsom over the issue of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to marginally literate, non-English-speaking illegal aliens. There have been several high-profile accidents caused by these people who never should have been allowed to remain in the country at all, much less to be behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, and the Secretary has evidently had enough.
In a conversation with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Secretary Duffy announced that California is about to discover what the “or else” is.
“I’m about to pull $160M from California — and as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses,” says @SecDuffy.
“Newsom cares more about illegals getting CDLs than he does the citizens of his own state.” pic.twitter.com/9w1wWNNRpa
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 26, 2025
Secretary Duffy said:
Gavin Newsom has thumbed his nose at us. He’s refused to comply with the rules that have come from DOT, which is, stop issuing these licenses, number one, and number two, go back and review all the licenses you have issued, and make sure it’s been done legally. Gavin Newsom has said no, so I’m about to pull $160 million from California, and as we pull more money, we also have the option of pulling California’s ability to issue commercial driver’s licenses. Gavin Newsom cares more about illegals getting commercial driver’s licenses than he does the citizens of his own state and the safety of Americans. It’s shameful. He’s been lying about what he’s been doing. And again, we’re going to fight tooth and nail under President Trump’s administration to make sure that we hold states like California accountable.
Yanking $160 million in highway funds, yes, would hurt. But Democrats shouldn’t squawk about this. They have used the threat of federal transportation funding for decades to push everything from mandatory seat-belt laws to the 55-mph speed limit. Sauce for the goose.
The revocation of the state’s authority to issue CDLs may hurt even more. Assuming any local trucking companies still remain in California, it will put a real squeeze on them to find drivers, doubly so if the revocation also applies to renewals. The people of California and, indeed, the country, would be a lot safer, but Governor Newsom doesn’t seem too worried about that.
The Secretary also had some sharp words about the Schumer Shutdown and how it may affect air travel.
.@SecDuffy: “Job number one is get people where they’re going safely — and if it’s not on time, call the Democrats. Call Chuck Schumer if you’re frustrated that you have a staffing shortage and your flight is 3 hours delayed or your flight is cancelled… This is the reason why.” pic.twitter.com/VWAaNEXGyU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 26, 2025
In this segment, the Secretary had this to say:
If I don’t feel like I have enough (air traffic) controllers, or enough controllers that are focused, we will slow down traffic. We will stop traffic. And that’s why you see the delays in the system, and the job number one is, I can get people to where they’re going safely, and if it’s not on time, well, call the Democrats. Call Chuck Schumer if you’re frustrated. If we have a staffing shortage, and your flight is three hours delayed or your flight is canceled, call Chuck, call Senate Democrats, because this is the reason why.
This is liable to happen if the Schumer Shutdown drags on, and we might note that in a month, the holiday season starts – with millions of Americans taking to the friendly skies, hoping to get where they are going, safely and on time.
Read More: Dems Facing Even More Trouble Now With Money and Unhappy Donors
So the Transportation Secretary is about to give California some what-for – and Senate Democrats into the bargain. That’s all to the good. It’s what we voted for.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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