U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said DOT will withhold nearly $75 million in federal funding if Pennsylvania does not revoke illegally issued non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

The funding threat comes after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found Pennsylvania violated federal regulations by issuing CDLs to ineligible foreigners without verifying their legal status. That includes a suspected terrorist arrested in Kansas who was illegally in the United States and issued a license in Pennsylvania earlier this year, according to Duffy. 

“Under President Trump, this department is taking every measure to ensure dangerous foreign drivers aren’t illegally operating 40-ton vehicles on American roads,” said Duffy.

In response, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said at a press conference that the driver in question was listed as authorized to hold a CDL in the federal database. Shapiro said as recently as Nov. 18, the person was still listed as authorized to receive a CDL.

He was critical of the federal government, saying “they clearly are not minding the shop, and they’ve got to get better, because every single state in the country relies on this database when making a determination as to who qualifies for a CDL.”

In a letter to Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Michael Carroll, FMCSA said that without corrective action, the state risks having its CDL program decertified and ultimately losing up to $151 million in funding. FMCSA said it believes 12,400 drivers hold an unexpired non-domiciled CDL or commercial learner’s permit issued by PennDOT.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Judy Ward (R), chairwoman of Pennsylvania’s Senate Transportation Committee, said she plans to launch a fact-finding hearing into the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs and Real IDs.

“We appreciate and uphold the ongoing investigations by the Trump administration – and Shapiro administration – into these allegations until all facts are secured,” Ward said. “Unlike other states, Pennsylvania has long-standing laws banning driver’s licenses, both regular and commercial, for anyone who is unlawfully present in this Commonwealth. If you are here illegally and falsified documents to receive a Pennsylvanian driver’s license, you will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent under federal and state laws.”

Prior to entering politics, Ward was wellness coordinator for Ward Transport and Logistics.