State extends migrant truckers' licenses, risking federal funds

California has delayed its cancellation of thousands of commercial driver's licenses held by migrants, setting it up for another showdown with Washington.

- NILESH CHRISTOPHER

MYUNG J. CHUN Los Angeles Times BEFORE the DMV extension, the cancellation idled vehicles at Bakersfield's Roadies trucking company.

California has delayed its cancellation of thousands of commercial driver's licenses held by migrants, setting it up for another showdown with Washington.

The Department of Motor Vehicles announced on Tuesday that the 17,000 migrant truck drivers whose licenses had been revoked can now keep them for 60 more days, which could enable the drivers to retake tests and do whatever is necessary to continue working legally.

"Commercial drivers are an important part of our economy our supply chains don't move, and our communities don't stay connected without them," DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a statement after the extension.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted by threatening to cut $160 million in federal funding to California if the state doesn't meet Monday's deadline to revoke unvetted foreign trucker licenses.

"California does NOT have an 'extension' to keep breaking the law and putting Americans at risk on the roads," Duffy posted on X.

He had earlier withheld $40 million in federal funding to California for failing to enforce English proficiency tests for truckers.

California's move to delay license revocations comes days after the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the DMV failed to offer proper recourse for affected drivers, refused to renew or issue new commercial driver's licenses, and violated their rights.

The 60-day extension allows those drivers whose licenses were set to expire on Monday to continue driving until March 6.