California Digs In On Non-Domiciled CDL Cancellations As Duffy Threatens $160M Funding Cut
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has delayed a planned crackdown tied to about 17,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, pushing the deadline from Jan. 5 to March. The move has escalated into a political fight after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the state and threatened to pull $160 million in federal highway funding.
At the center of the dispute are commercial licenses issued to drivers who are not considered domiciled in California. The state was set to begin canceling or taking action on those licenses by early January, but the DMV extended the timeline to March.
Duffy responded by accusing the governor of being dishonest about the situation, publicly calling him a liar, and warning that the federal government could withhold $160 million in highway dollars.
For professional drivers, the issue matters because it directly affects who can legally operate, what paperwork is required, and how quickly the state might take enforcement steps. A schedule change can mean uncertainty for drivers holding affected licenses and for carriers trying to keep trucks compliant and seated.
The broader context is that licensing and eligibility decisions can quickly become high-stakes when they intersect with federal transportation funding. In this case, California’s delay has become the trigger for a funding threat from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- What changed: California moved the enforcement deadline from Jan. 5 to March.
- Who’s affected: Roughly 17,000 non-domiciled CDL holders.
- Federal response: Secretary Sean Duffy threatened a $160 million highway funding cut and publicly attacked the governor.