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The federal government has warned New York that it could lose over $70 million in highway aid if it continues to issue commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to foreign drivers without proper verification. The U.S. Department of Transportation found that New York's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) had a 53% error rate in issuing "non-domiciled" CDLs, which are permits for drivers with temporary legal status in the U.S. According to News10, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the state must revoke any licenses that were issued improperly and conduct an internal review within 30 days. Failure to comply could result in the loss of federal highway funding.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that New York issued 107 CDLs in violation of federal law. Duffy stated, "When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake—it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership." The FMCSA also reported that New York's automated systems granted eight-year licenses to drivers whose legal status expires in less than eight years, and accepted expired documents for license approval.
New York State officials, however, disagree with the federal findings. Walter McClure from the DMV defended the state's process, stating that every CDL issued is verified against federal databases. McClure characterized the federal funding threat as a political stunt that would not improve road safety. The state plans to review the federal demands and respond accordingly.