Newsom is playing a very stupid game.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is defying a major order backed by President Donald Trump, delaying the cancellation of thousands of commercial driver’s licenses issued to non-citizens—despite federal warnings that the move could cost the state millions in taxpayer funding.
State officials confirmed this week that California will postpone revoking approximately 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses until March, missing a firm January 5 federal deadline set by the Trump administration. Federal transportation officials have warned that continued noncompliance could put nearly $160 million in federal transportation funding at risk.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the delay is meant to give the state additional time to address concerns raised by federal regulators. Those concerns intensified after multiple deadly crashes nationwide involving foreign drivers, some of whom were operating commercial vehicles on licenses issued by California.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has repeatedly warned that states must enforce federal safety standards or face serious consequences. He made clear that California’s refusal to act could trigger funding cuts from the Department of Transportation.
Governor Newsom pushed back publicly, accusing federal officials of mismanagement and claiming California was led to believe a deadline extension was acceptable. In a social media post, Newsom said federal staff had indicated flexibility during earlier discussions and that the state acted based on that guidance.
Federal officials strongly disputed that claim.
“California does not have an extension to keep breaking the law and putting Americans at risk on the roads,” Duffy wrote. He warned that missing the deadline would force the federal government to act, including withholding transportation funds.
At the same time, California faces pressure from immigration advocacy groups. Organizations including the Asian Law Caucus and the Sikh Coalition have filed a class-action lawsuit arguing that canceling the licenses would lead to immediate work disruptions for truck and bus drivers.
Under the state’s revised timeline, affected drivers will receive an additional 60 days before the cancellations take effect.
The dispute follows several high-profile fatal crashes involving illegal immigrant drivers operating commercial vehicles. In one case, a foreign national allegedly killed three people in Florida while driving on a commercial license issued by California, reigniting national debate over vetting, language proficiency, and highway safety.
Federal officials say such incidents highlight the need for stricter enforcement. Secretary Duffy recently announced $118 million in new grants to help states remove unqualified drivers from the road and strengthen commercial driver oversight.
Despite mounting pressure, California leaders insist they will continue issuing commercial licenses to non-citizens while promising improvements to security and screening procedures.
DMV Director Steve Gordon said the state hopes updated processes will satisfy federal regulators and allow California to resume issuing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses—setting the stage for a continued showdown with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement and public safety.
