• The Trump administration is withholding $40 million from California due to non-compliance with English proficiency rules for truck drivers.
• California disputes claims, citing lower accident rates among its commercial truck drivers compared to national averages.
• The funding freeze follows a deadly crash involving an Indian truck driver who failed an English proficiency test.

The Trump administration has announced it will withhold $40 million in federal transportation funding from California after the state failed to enforce English language requirements for commercial truck drivers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that California is the only state not ensuring that truck drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement, framing this as a critical safety issue following a fatal crash in Florida involving a truck driver from California who could not demonstrate English proficiency. The withholding of funds is part of a broader enforcement action related to federal compliance standards that were recently reaffirmed through executive orders, according to Reuters, India Times, and SFGate.

The decision follows an incident where trucker Harjinder Singh, who had a California-issued commercial license, was involved in a collision resulting in three fatalities. Duffy cited that Singh had previously failed an English proficiency test, which should have disqualified him from obtaining a commercial driver's license, according to federal regulations enacted following executive orders by President Trump. This situation has amplified tensions between state and federal governance, especially as it involves immigration and safety concerns, reports Reuters and SFGate.

California officials have responded robustly, asserting that the state's commercial truck drivers have a fatal accident rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom, emphasized that California adheres to safety standards and that the facts speak otherwise against the administration's claims. This counterargument highlights California's commitment to truck safety measures and its legitimate issuance of commercial licenses, which are inaccurately blamed for the incident involving Singh, as per statements from India Times and SFGate.

Furthermore, California's officials argue that Singh had a valid work permit at the time of his licensing and that their processes ensure adequate safety checks. Secretary Duffy also mentioned that to restore funding, California must implement strict regulations to enforce English rules and ensure thorough roadside inspections that include testing for language proficiency. Failure to comply could result in an additional $160 million in funding being withheld, indicating the increasing pressure on California's regulatory framework, according to Reuters, India Times, and SFGate.