Trump Admin Withholds $41 Million From California Over English-Language Trucking Rules

California officials denied failing to meet the new standards and said they require English language proficiency for commercial drivers.

A semi-truck from Tijuana, Mexico, as it makes its way across a bridge into the United States after clearing customs at the Otay Mesa border in San Diego, Calif., on July 15, 2025. Mike Blake/Reuters

The Trump administration is withholding $40.6 million in transportation funding from California after an investigation found the state failed to comply with the federal English language proficiency requirement for truck drivers, officials announced on Oct. 15.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will keep $40.7 million in federal grant funding for California from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). The funding is awarded to states to conduct roadside inspections, traffic enforcement, safety audits of trucking companies, and public education campaigns.